Watford's two-week gap to right the wrongs of an ultimately below-par defeat to Southampton has left the club's players frustrated, according to Stefano Okaka.

Chelsea's FA Cup exploits mean their scheduled league match with Walter Mazzarri's men at Stamford Bridge next Monday has been postponed indefinitely - and will not be re-arranged until the end of this month.

It leaves Watford's next game at Crystal Palace on March 18 - and their only other game during the month, with an international break to follow the week after.

Okaka said: "Two weeks is too much, after this game you want to play tomorrow to get some points.

"We have to work and wait and at Crystal Palace we will have to give everything and fight, like we did against Southampton, but we have to improve defensively."

The Saints loss game marked a first start for Okaka since January, in an injury-hit season for the former Roma man.

He has made a big impression on the Hornets in his few appearances this season - seeing a goal chalked out on his debut at West Ham, before striking twice against Everton in December and notching another on Saturday.

All of that has come in the equivalent of just over five full Premier League games, and the striker admitted he had never experienced such a tumultuous season in his career.

He said: "The first injury, it can happen. But another, after Everton, was unbelievable.

"I was back, played well and then missed another two months. I’ve ended up having three pre-seasons, in the summer, after West Ham and after Everton.

"My injury stopped me. I have been out for a long time since Everton, I work with my leg so it’s good news for me."