The logic in sacking Nigel Pearson was to get a bounce for the final two games in a desperate bid to stave off relegation.
However, Watford looked lost without the man who guided them to the verge of safety and this damaging defeat against Manchester City leaves them on the brink of a return to the Championship after five years in the top flight.
Coupled with Aston Villa’s 1-0 win over Arsenal last night, Watford slipped into the bottom three by virtue of their goal difference being one worse than the Midlands side.
It sets up a tense finale on Sunday when the Hornets travel to Arsenal, Villa go to West Ham, while Bournemouth, who are three points back in 19th, are at Everton.
Watford owner Gino Pozzo hoped the brutal sacking of Pearson on Sunday would spark a reaction from the players. He felt something needed to change but any hopes of a lift under caretaker Hayden Mullins were quickly extinguished as Watford capitulated.
In Pictures | Watford vs Man City | 21/07/2020
Goalkeeper Ben Foster described confidence among the squad as “crazy low” after a crushing defeat. The only consolation was that City did not score more.
“The confidence is so crazy, crazy low,” said Foster. “I do not know why it should be, but you get into a state of trying to minimise as much damage as you can and it’s a dangerous way to do things. I do not think we helped ourselves. I do not think we did enough to do anything but what the result suggested.”
Asked whether Pearson’s departure had affected the team, Foster replied: “Not necessarily. We are well versed in what goes on at this club and it is what it is. You just get used to it. In football nowadays, nothing seems to shock and you roll with the punches.
“You cannot ever blame it on anything but your own performances. We have to look at ourselves. We have a massive game on Sunday and that is all we’ve got to look at now.”
Getting a reaction under Mullins was never going to be easy against a City side against whom Watford have endured a traumatic time of late. The defeat last night means the aggregate score from the past three meetings between the clubs, including last season’s FA Cup Final, is 18-0.
Mullins must rouse the players for a much-improved performance.
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“All I know is that we need to go to Arsenal now and get a positive result, said the caretaker manager. “I have to be confident in the dressing room. I have to be confident in the boys. We have to go looking for a positive result.
“We spoke about staying together and doing the right things. When you get to this stage of the season it is tough but we will deal with it the way we know how — stay confident and prepare as best we can for Sunday.”