Despite being far more comprehensively beaten on Saturday than the 2-1 result shows, Tom Cleverley believes Watford are still in the play-off race.
The Hornets are outside the top six after losing to Burnley, but they have a game in hand on the majority of the teams above them.
Cleverley is certain that, despite the morale-sapping afternoon at Turf Moor, his club is still in the promotion picture.
“We absolutely are. Maybe the game we had today is over, but we are still contenders,” he remarked.
“I believe we have done enough this season to show it.
“It’s a game at a time now and we have to work towards fulfilling that objective.”When I was a player, we were eighth at this point in the season and were promoted.
“The three at the top of the league, along with Sunderland, the quality of players and the quality of coach, the superior mindset they have over the rest of the league – I think you’ve got your top three in there.”
Cleverley reflected on his promotion to the Championship with Watford.”It is possible, but it will require a tremendous amount of effort. I believe we won ten out of eleven games.
“It’s a completely different team,” he told me.
“We had a team that had recently been relegated from the Premier League. They were Premier League-level players.
“Our team has a lot of youthful, unproven talent – it’s like chalk and cheese.
“We also had many players on Premier League salaries, which helped.
“I like the potential my team has, but it’s about working hard to ensure they fulfil that.”
The head coach was asked if the defeat against Burnley was the season’s low point.
“I think getting 3-0 against your local rivals is going to be hard to beat,” he said, “but I feel like every time we get to the point where we believe this is the game that really drives us forward and shows we’re more than just a play-off candidate, we get knocked back.
“It’s disappointing that we’ve got to that level on the back of a six-game unbeaten run, had a great win against West Brom last week, and then when we ask can we produce that performance to spring us forward and give the whole club the belief that we’re maybe more than just a play-off contender, we haven’t managed to clear that hurdle.”