Head coach Tom Cleverley admitted to feeling embarrassed having his name sung by the Watford fans as they suffered their fifth successive home defeat.
The 4-0 thumping from a highly-impressive Leeds United means the Hornets have taken just five points from the last 30 – a run that has to end.
“No absolutely it can’t carry on,” Cleverley admitted.
“Nights like tonight or getting well beaten by someone on Leeds’ level could carry on, if we have the injuries.
“It’s a massively expensive squad they’ve got in comparison to ours, so nights like this I’m afraid – I’ll have to be honest – the same result could happen.
“But five points in 10 games? I do get a little bit embarrassed when I hear my name being sung after a run like that.
“I want to stick my chest out and know that I have to improve. We have to improve.
“The only way we do that is by sticking together.”
Watford were simply blown away by the visitors who, after the gift of an opening goal after 20 minutes, had pretty much put the game to bed within the next quarter of an hour.
The Whites have now won 10 and drawn the other four of their last 14 Championship fixtures and will remain top of the league table regardless of what happens in Wednesday night’s fixtures.
“We were in the presence of a very strong Championship side, and we knew that before the game,” Cleverley admitted.
“I think now we’ve seen it up close and personal we can say it’s certainly one of the best teams I’ve seen at this level.
“It should give us, as a staff and a group of players, inspiration of the levels we want to get to.
“I feel like all my players have got the potential to reach that level but it doesn’t just happen.
“So I challenge the players to be more intense in their work in the week, more professional wherever they can – and I’m not saying we have any players that are unprofessional but you can always do more.
“As a player, that level would inspire me to try and do more in my game or in my life to reach it.
“There are things we could have done better today, but ultimately those games don’t judge our season.
“Saturday against Middlesbrough, and certainly the week after against Luton, will give us more level of game where our season will be judged.”
