After giving a frank and often brutal assessment of Watford’s performance at Luton on Saturday, and the bigger picture at the club, Chris Wilder has called for unity as preparations begin for two games in four days over the Easter weekend.

The head coach’s post-game assessment of the 2-0 defeat at Kenilworth Road was painfully honest, but has drawn support from many fans.

Now, though, having said his piece about the derby, Wilder is calling upon supporters to back the team when they face Huddersfield at Vicarage Road on Friday, and then when they travel to take on Coventry on Monday.

Talking to watfordfc.com, Wilder referred to the final seven games of the season as “our challenge”.

“It’s not his challenge, her challenge, their challenge. It’s our challenge – a challenge we can all share in, for everyone with a piece of themselves connected to Watford Football Club in any way,” said Wilder.

“For myself and my coaching staff: what can we do better to ensure we give the squad the information and inspiration to be successful?

“For the players: what can they find from within themselves to give the supporters a 90-minute performance to be proud of, not just the odd moments of hope that fade away?

“For the supporters: what can they do to ensure the team has the fullest possible backing for the whole 90 minutes of every game between now and May the 8th?”

During his post-game press game conference on Saturday, Wilder said there was much at the club to feel positive about, but that it might take a bit longer to get things moving in the right direction.

“I said it Saturday and I’ll say it again now on Monday: there’s a lot of great things here at this football club,” he said today.

“It’s not going to take moving heaven and earth to get it back on track moving in the right direction. But whatever those changes are, everyone will need to share in that responsibility. Why? So then it’s something everyone can be proud of.”

Wilder said that he was aware there had been a huge amount of discussion and debate of the game and performance on Saturday, as well as his post-match press conference. However, he now wanted to try and draw a line under it and look to the future.

“I’ve had my say about the weekend and I’m sure fans have had their say too,” he said.

“It’s done now – and it’s in no one’s interest to keep raking over it so let’s get on with this week and set about making sure we’re firing on all cylinders come three o’clock this Friday.

“I thought long and hard about everything I said on Saturday. I wanted the supporters to understand we knew we’d let them down and I wanted the players to understand that they now have the responsibility to produce a big reaction that lasts not just for 30 minutes or so but for the seven lots of 90 minutes

“I’ve always been a very positive guy in my outlook on everything to do with being a football manager and that sure as hell isn’t going to change now.”