Given a single goal is keeping Watford outside of the automatic promotion places you might have expected Slavisa Jokanovic to be frustrated with his side’s profligacy against Millwall this afternoon.

The Hornets boss wasn’t. He was more than happy with an ugly 2-0 victory.

Matej Vydra and Adlene Guedioura scored the goals at The Den but there was an overriding sense that the Golden Boys should have had more. Not that Millwall didn’t offer a threat of their own during an entertaining contest.

But with second placed side Norwich City scrambling a late 2-1 win against Bolton Wanderers, Watford remain third in the table with four games of the season remaining.

Jokanovic was asked during his post-match press conference if he was disappointed the Hornets weren’t more clinical against a Lions side who are engulfed in a relegation battle.

The Serbian said: “I do not have plans to win games five or six nil. I just try and find a way to win the game.

“It is true that all the goals and all the points are very important at this stage but we have another chance in front us against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. I expect we will be ready to try and win that game.”

He added: “The Norwich match and other games are not under my control.”

The Hornets were far from their fluent passing best against Neil Harris’ side but they did enough to collect another three points. And Jokanovic was happy his side demonstrated their ability to grind out victory and 'win ugly'.

He said: “I enjoyed it. Why is it ugly? Sometimes it is important to just win the game.

“All of us prefer to always play nice football, score many goals and play a brilliant game. It’s true today we didn’t play a brilliant game but at this stage of the competition I must be happy with our performance.”

He continued: “I believe we could have had more minutes of the game under control.

“We had some problems during the game but I can understand our situation. It was an important game for us and an important game for Millwall.

“As I always say, in front of us is space to improve and I expect us to improve in these next four games."

The top four teams in the Championship are separated by only two points. It is impossible to predict who will clinch automatic promotion come May 2 and Jokanovic is enjoying the race for a place in the Premier League.

“For supporters it is a nice competition,” he said. “It is one of the more interesting competitions in the world and there are many players with the chance to be champions in this competition.

“I am enjoying it too and my team are enjoying it. All of us expect and believe we will have a happy end.

“To arrive at that we must play four games more. Everything is possible. I don’t believe all the teams will win all the points.

“Somebody will make a mistake during these four. I don’t expect us to make a mistake but you never know. Wednesday is a new examination for us in front of 20,000 people. I expect to be ready to this fight.”