For the second consecutive game Watford were a goal down early on after shooting themselves in the foot.

Millwall’s goal on Saturday was far earlier but more forgivable, while the own goal conceded to give Swansea the lead was farcical.

Both, though, meant that a Watford team with confidence as thin as rice paper found itself chasing a game almost before any pattern had been developed.

“You have to understand in our situation, when you not winning games but losing games, the confidence is not high,” admitted Valerien Ismael.

“We tried to avoid having a false start in the game, and to make sure we stay in the game. At the minute, things go against us.

“Tonight it was an own goal, on Saturday it was a deflected goal after two minutes.”

After another fairly insipid opening 45 minutes, there were at least signs of life from Watford after the break.

“In the second half we showed good energy and the crowd responded well to that,” said the head coach.

“We scored the goal and had a lot of chances to score a second one.

“The problem is we wanted to be too sure with the extra touch, trying to not make a mistake but making a mistake anyway.

“When you take that extra touch you allow the opponent to come back and make a tackle or a save.

“We’re missing the flow in our game in and around the box.

“We lack confidence, and to get that it is just results. It is a clear matter.

“In the second half after we scored we were able to push and get back into our system, and apply pressure.

“You need a win for confidence. You need a win. It’s the only antidote to our pain at the minute.”

As for the own goal, which saw Ryan Andrews attempt to head a long ball back to keeper Dan Bachmann, only to discover Bachman was heading in his direction as the ball bounced into the empty net, the Watford boss had a simple explanation.

“It was simply a lack of communication,” he said.

“I think there is a bit of blame for both, but overall it was a lack of communication.

“At half time we said we needed to clear the ball but we spoke positively.

“I haven’t spoken to them about it to see if there was a call for the ball or anything. We will talk about that tomorrow.

“It’s happened. It’s unfortunate. There is no antidote against mistakes.”