'I sensed we may under-perform' (From Watford Observer)

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Watford boss sensed his side may under-perform at Crystal Palace

12:24pm Monday 20th February 2012 in Watford FC News Photograph of the Author By Frank Smith

Picture: Holly Cant

Watford manager Sean Dyche said he had a feeling his side would under-perform prior to Saturday’s disappointing 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

The Hornets were disappointing as they slumped to defeat at Selhurst Park, conceding four very poor goals.

Watford had taken ten points from a possible 12 going into the contest whereas Palace were in search of their first league win of 2012 and Dyche believes the opposition wanted it more.

He said: “It was a team who haven’t won all year against a team who have been on a fantastic run and found it tough to go again.

“After two really tough, emotional games against Forest - for obvious reasons - and a fantastic turnaround to beat Leicester, I thought we were a bit flat and I sensed it before the game.

“Sometimes it is hard to get them out of that mode and get them started and I thought that was how it played out.

“They were more eager and more desperate for their first win of 2012.”

When asked why he felt his players may under-perform, Dyche replied: “It is just a feeling you get when you have been in the game forever. I feel like I was born in football.

“You just get a sense and it is hard to break them out of it because sometimes you get it wrong and you can over-egg it so you don’t want to build it up too much.

“We tried to make sure the mentality was right because we are a strong group mentally and obviously that has carried us well, building from an awkward start to the season.

“That is a real reminder for us without taking anything away from Palace, because they were up for it today with the way they played and the manner they went about the win.”

The victory over Leicester City the Tuesday before moved Watford 15 points clear of the relegation places but Dyche does not believe that was a factor.

He said: “I don’t think so because we spoke about going again before the game and spoke all week about it because sometimes there is the mentality of ‘o well we have been on a good run and maybe we can just come off it a bit’.

“We spoke about making sure that didn’t affect us and words are sometimes easy and we didn’t deliver it.

“After a soft first goal, it changed the feel of the game because we started okay without being sharp. If Craig Forsyth’s shot had gone in then it would have changed the feel but they were good value for the win. “ Watford have tightened up at the back this season and have defended well at set pieces – which was a real problem in recent years.

However, on Saturday three of the goals came from set pieces.

Dyche said: “We have done really well on set pieces - both scoring and not conceding - and that is disappointing; the nature of the goals but every goal is disappointing.”

He continued: “I didn’t think we were our usual selves full stop. It wasn’t just about the nature of the goals; it was about the general feel about the group.

“But this is the same group who have been absolutely immense all season. I think it is our fifth loss in 20 games so we are not scratching our heads wondering where it has all gone wrong.

“We know what we are about and we know where we are going. I said to the lads that this is just a really good reminder that if you come away from your performance levels by just five or ten per cent then you will be punished and today we were unfortunately about 20 per cent below our normal level.”

Comments(38)

MyaMcHayface says...
12:42pm Mon 20 Feb 12

Would have been nice of him to let us know before the game so I didn't have to bother to go there and pay to watch that rubbish.