A disappointed Javi Gracia admitted Watford were below-par and felt his side’s attacking play was not up to its usual standard after their goalless draw with Burnley.

Gerard Deulofeu failed to convert a great chance to give the Hornets an early lead, while a good save from Tom Heaton thwarted Troy Deeney at the end of the opening period, but those opportunities apart the home side largely struggled to create anything of note in the final third.

Indeed, it was the Clarets who had the better opportunities to clinch a fourth successive Premier League win as Ashley Barnes wasted two excellent chances, while Chris Wood thought he’d snatched the win at the death but was denied by a tight offside decision.

The afternoon had begun with a scarf tribute in honour of Graham Taylor as the Hornets fans marked two years since their greatest ever manager’s passing and Gracia reflected: “You always want more but if you don’t play your better game, then it is positive to get a point. Today on a special day for the club, for all of us, we wanted to get a victory.

“To play against Burnley you always need to be constant, to be very demanding in all the challenges, all the second balls. I think that part we did well, but we didn’t do the different ways we try to attack, to create chances.

“In the beginning we created a clear chance with Gerard, in the first half with (Ken) Sema and with Troy we created two or three more chances but it wasn’t enough to score. It was an equal game, very close, we got a point and we continue.”

While Watford were unable to get the three points, the draw means they have now lost only one of their last eight Premier League games.

The head coach said: “There are many positives but in this moment I’m a little bit disappointed because we wanted today to get a win. But when you can’t win, I think a point is good.”

Another positive for the home side was a fifth league clean sheet of the season and Gracia remarked: “All the team worked were very concentrated and disciplined and you have to defend well because I remember last season when we were winning 1-0 and at the end of the game with two long balls, two free-kicks, we lost the game. I think it’s important to remember these things.”

The Hornets were without Craig Cathcart and Abdoulaye Doucuoure, both of whom were absent with knee injuries, but Gracia does not expect the pair to be out of action for long.

He said: “Craig Cathcart and Doucoure both felt pain in the last training and they weren’t available for today, but I think they have minor problems and for the next game I’m sure they will be ready.”

Watford missed Doucuoure’s drive in the middle of the park but the head coach preferred to focus on those who did play.

“I don’t like to speak about the players I don’t have because there are others, today like Tom (Cleverley), like (Etienne) Capoue playing in the middle and I think both have played very well," he said.

“Maybe with other options, with other qualities, the game could be different but all my players are important for me and I prefer to speak about the players who have played and in this case those players, in my opinion, have played well.”