It’s beginning to sound like a stuck record, but once again after Sunday’s game Watford Women head coach Damon Lathrope was left to reflect upon failure to deal with crosses and take chances.

The 2-1 defeat to Lewes showcased the major issues that have contributed to the Golden Girls losing their last four games, starting with conceding two goals from balls into the box.

“It’s our responsibility as coaches to ensure we are giving the players all the details to try and give them the best chance,” said Lathrope.

“We’re not the biggest team or the most physical, so we have to help the players to minimise the chance of being punished in these scenarios.

“Defending your box is one of the most important parts of the game and we’re spending a lot of time on it, but maybe we need to spend even more.”

At the other end, Watford twice hit the woodwork and saw a free header go wide from close range right at the death.

However, as well as not putting away the opportunities they get, Watford have also been guilty of not turning possession into more openings.

“If you look at the chances created - and we get all the stats given to us – the possession we’ve had in some games hasn’t delivered the number of chances it should,” Lathrope admitted.

“Having said that, I don’t know if being more direct or playing long would result in more. I don’t think it would.

“I feel we are getting in enough positions per game to justify that the way we play is working. The percentage of converting chances is not as high as we would like it though.

“In the final third is where you ultimately earn your money, and we need quality and that final bit of detail.

“I know the players can do it, and they know they can do it. Maybe we need a bit of luck or something to fall our way to get things going for us.”

There is better news on the horizon for Lathrope though, as a number of injured players should be back in contention after the next international break, which begins following Sunday’s game away at Birmingham.

That includes midfielder Poppy Wilson, who scored the winning goal in May’s Play-Off Final but hasn’t played since the opening day of this season.

“She’s not too far away now,” said Lathrope.

“She should be available to us after the international break, and that will be a real positive. We’ve really missed her.

“What she brings to the team gives us a slightly different dimension.”

Striker Michelle Agyemang was very impressive on her debut away at London City at the start of September, but she was injured just before half-time in that game and hasn’t featured since.

“Michelle is in a similar position to Poppy, probably a couple of weeks away from joining with training,” said Lathrope.

“Then she’ll need a week or two to just get back up to speed of games.”

Midfielder Charlotte Fleming was Watford’s first new signing of the summer but has yet to play due to injury.

“She had a setback as she was very close to being available a few weeks ago, and played in a development game to get her minutes up but she felt something in her quad,” Lathrope explained.

“That’s put her back a couple of weeks, but after the international break I’m expecting her to be fit and available for selection.”

One issue Lathrope wasn’t expecting was the loss of his first-choice goalkeeper after only five league games.

“Having Liv Clark recalled by Bristol City out of the blue last week left us in a tough position,” he said.

“Our goalkeeping coach Sophie Harris has played the last two, with young Rebekah Dowsett on the bench and playing in the cup in midweek.

“We can’t sign players outside of the transfer windows, and there are very few free agent goalies available. We have looked but at the moment there’s nothing happening.”

Jacqui Goldsmid, who played the second half of last season and kept a clean sheet in the Play-Off Final, is still sidelined.

“Jacqui saw a specialist three weeks ago and had an injection in the tendon in her finger, but she is probably three or four weeks away from being available,” said Lathrope.