More to Watford performance than the scoreline

It is not often you come away from a 3-1 loss against an undefeated side and feel like you deserved all three points.

But that was the main takeaway for most Watford supporters following our defeat by Coventry City – a sense of a missed opportunity to kick-start a season that could be quietly brewing.

Despite the inclusion of the seemingly ever-present old guard of Moussa Sissoko and Edo Kayembe, a starting line-up that included Kwadwo Baah, Mamadou Doumbia and Rocco Vata gave hope we might be able to take the game to Frank Lampard's high-flying side.

And this theory was almost instantly proved right as Vata failed to convert a huge chance in the opening minutes – a tale that would repeat itself a little too often.

In truth, Vata could have won the match single-handedly. And while no Watford fan would hold it against the young forward following his game-winner in midweek, it feels like finishing practice for all will be on the cards in training.

I am not usually one for xG (Expected Goals), but the statistic sums up the performance perfectly – Coventry City 1.31 xG and Watford 2.76 xG.

And that is not to mention more shots, more shots on target, more touches in the opposition box – and the fact Egil Selvik did not make a single save.

Despite it being two losses in his first three games for Javi Gracia, there are signs of potential. And even Coventry City supporters have been complimentary of our performance, with many suggesting the Hornets could find themselves near the top of the table come the business end of the campaign.

While those who did not watch the full 90 minutes of action may look at the result and assume it was another high-scoring walk in the park for the home side, most fans came away with a sense of positivity – something that has been hard to come by in recent times.

So it goes to show that sometimes there is more to a match than just a scoreline.