Yaser Asprilla’s truly stunning equaliser at Carrow Road will become little more than a footnote to a miserable away defeat.

It could – and really should – have been the spark that turned around not just that one game but also a period in the season where Watford are in a slump.

However, from the high of a world-class goal, Watford quickly tumbled back into despair.

“I think we came back strongly in the second half, we were on top and on the front foot,” said Valerien Ismael.

“We scored an awesome goal from Yaser, we were back on track and everything was there.

“I was right behind it. It was an incredible shot. That’s why it is most frustrating.

“From that point I think we were really on top. From the start of the second half to scoring our second goal we were really on top, after that the third goal changed the game but not necessarily the result.

“But when the fourth goal came, then it was game over.”

Like most inside Carrow Road, Ismael sensed and heard the change in the home crowd as soon as Mileta Rajovic made it 2-1.

“After we scored the goal to get to 2-1, in the Norwich crowd you could feel something happen. The momentum changed,” he said.

“We had a big chance before half-time with Matheus Martins, and at some point you have to be ruthless.”

Of course, what initially buoyed the Canaries fans was going 2-0 up so quickly, during an opening period when it felt like Watford were still on the bus.

“The problem is we still forget about our schedule. We had a very intense game on Saturday against Leicester, and as I have said when you play Saturday/Tuesday it is difficult to create momentum,” said Ismael.

“So we needed time to come into the game, and if that’s the case then you need to keep the clean sheet, and that will give you the second breath.

“I think it’s more that, rather than saying we weren’t there. I think we were there in some situations, there were just two situations where we were not concentrating.

“We lost a duel, and then there was the penalty situation – after that we were on top.

“We scored a goal, we had a big chance again before half-time, and we were on top at the start of the second half – and at 2-2 we were there.

“At 2-2 we all had that feeling we could go and do it again, that belief was there.

“But we need to have all the players 100% and working to help each other.”

In both the opening and closing stages of the games, there were errors made by players who were clearly showing the effects of tiredness which the head coach assigned to the schedule of recent fixtures.

“We need the freshness in your mind and if you see the schedule in the last three midweeks we have been on the road playing,” he said.

“It is exactly the freshness you need in your decision making at both ends: when you’re defending and when you’re attacking.

“So it’s good that we are scoring goals, but we are conceding too many goals at the minute, and that is something we need to solve to give us a better chance to win a game.”