Although there were parts of all four Norwich goals that could be picked apart and dissected, it was clearly the first and last goal that irked Valerien Ismael the most last night.

For the opener, Norwich’s Onel Hernandez was able to get all the way into the Watford box and reach the by-line with minimum resistance from Jamal Lewis.

“You have to win your duels. That is one of the basics of football,” the Watford head coach reflected.

“Win your duels and make sure you can keep the ball.

“It doesn’t matter which position you play, you have a job to do – and to do it properly.”

The fourth goal, which killed the game off, saw Norwich benefit from a Watford turnover.

“I think the third goal was a lucky situation because at first he wanted to play outside, the ball was deflected and it put him in another, better situation.

“That can happen.

“But the fourth goal we were clearly on the ball and we lost it too many times. There were situations like that before which was a sign we had to be careful and more clinical.

“The fourth goal was too easy in how it happened. It’s unacceptable actually.

“I think that later in the game we gave the ball away too easily. You need more calmness and to keep the ball rolling to control the game.

“But we lost too many situations. We lost the control of the game unnecessarily.”

With only two points from the last available 15, are the play-offs now out of the question?

“I think we have to think about the next game, and winning it,” said Ismael.

“If you are not winning games then it will be difficult to think of something different.”