Head coach Ed Still blamed a "passive' first-half display for Watford's home defeat by Ipswich Town, his first since arriving at the club three games ago.
"I was very disappointed with how we weren't aggressive in the first half, we didn't execute the pressing triggers that we wanted and were much more passive than we wanted to be," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.
"Despite that, we haven't conceded any big chances in the first half apart from the free-kick (leading to the first goal) - and I don't know in what world that is a foul against Mattie Pollock and it was disappointing to conceded off a rebound.
"The second half, we came out much better, we put them under pressure and made it difficult for them and had a really good spell for 20-25 minutes.
"We should have been a bit more clinical in the final third to be able to create a chance or two more than we did and then we were unlucky on the break for the second goal. It feels like the game has got away from us on a couple of unlucky bounces."
Still switched to a back five with wingers Othmane Maamma and Kwadwo Baah out injured but it did not pay off and Tom Ince saw a late penalty saved by Christian Walton as the Hornets looked for a reply.
The loss left them 12th in the table, six points adrift of the play-off spots, with an away game against Bristol City on Friday to come next.