Behrami desperate for Hornets reflection

Watford midfielder Valon Behrami believes his side have no choice but to front up to their lack of clinical edge, and admits it’s going to be a hard week on the training ground.

The Hornets dominated in defeat in Saturday’s Premier League clash at Sunderland, with Patrick van Aanholt scoring the only goal of the game at the Stadium of Light.

That was despite a plethora of chances for the visitors, with Troy Deeney missing a header while Daryl Janmaat and Odion Ighalo spurned late opportunities.

It proved a bitter pill to swallow for Behrami, a fourth defeat in five for a side who had been flying high in the Premier League table.

And the 31-year-old Swiss international admitted the players need to look at themselves closely ahead of Boxing Day’s visit of Crystal Palace, another team fighting against relegation in the vital festive period.

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

“We’ve had this moment against Sunderland so we need to go away, work harder and be more clinical in ourselves,” he said.

“That’s what we missed and it’s something that we’ve paid for before. It’s normal in the Premier League that when you don’t take your chances you get punished.

“You can’t create so many chances and then not score – one mistake and you lose the game and that’s what has happened.

“Now we have a few more days to work, to think about ourselves and mistakes and every player has to think about it. We have to be mature, and I expect that from everyone.

“It’s not going to be a nice week for us but we have to feel bad for that result.”