It was a lap of appreciation from the players for the fans because, quite simply, there was no way this season could end with a lap of honour.

However, whatever it was called it was painful for Watford boss Chris Wilder as he admitted the fact the season didn’t continue beyond this afternoon was not good enough.

The head coach arrived with 11 games in which to try and steer the Hornets into the play-offs, and ended them 11th in the Championship table and six points adrift of Sunderland in the final play-off spot.

“It was disappointing when we were walking round after the game as this shouldn’t have been the end of the season,” Wilder conceded.

“But it is, and there’s a reason for that.”

There was a small crumb of comfort in that Watford bowed out with a 2-0 win in a game that was low on quality and high on errors – but Wilder was determined to finish with three points.

“The message to the players was that there’s always something to play for. There’s always someone watching you, and there should always be the pride in pulling the shirt on,” he said.

“It could have been a really difficult and disappointing afternoon, and the atmosphere might have turned one way.

“It didn’t because we got a result and supporters come to see a winning team. They’ve seen a win today although all three results could have happened.

“Stoke gave it away, we gave it away. It was never going to be full tilt and I think everybody recognised and expected that.

“We both had good moments in the first half, then we got ahead in the second half and got a second in quick succession and it ended up being a pretty comfortable afternoon.

“I’m delighted we got the young boys on the pitch and they’ve had a taste of what it’s like to play at The Vic.

“To get something today, a small consolation out of what has been a deeply disappointing season, is a small positive.”