February has begun how January ended with another defeat as Watford’s struggles continued with a fourth successive loss at home as Norwich City claimed a 1-0 victory at Vicarage Road. But the result does not begin to tell the story of a game in which frustrations came to the fore on and off the pitch.

The match essentially turned on the first-half sending off of Vakoun Bayo for a forceful shove on Emiliano Marcondes. Lewis Smith deemed it worthy of a straight red card – and the referee experienced a very difficult afternoon, largely of his own making, thereafter.

The Canaries scored what proved to be the winner soon after through Josh Sargent, but the Hornets then had a strong penalty appeal turned down before half-time when keeper Angus Gunn looked to have brought down Giorgi Chakvetadze.

Watford made a decent fist of it with ten men and had plenty of the ball and territory, but were unable to create a clear-cut opportunity to give them a chance of salvaging something from an afternoon that saw sections of the Rookery make their dissatisfaction towards owner Gino Pozzo increasingly clear.

Here are five talking points we’ve picked out from this afternoon’s defeat – the list could easily have been twice as long – and you can tell us what you think by using the comments facility on this page.

Difficult times

This afternoon’s defeat means Watford have now won only one of their last eight league outings and have slipped to their lowest position of the season with just two days remaining in the transfer window.

Tom Cleverley’s pre-match comments firmly suggested that at least two more new faces will be added to the squad before the window shuts, but an even brighter light has now been shone on the lack of forward options following Bayo’s sending off.

Where would you like to see Watford strengthen before the window shuts?

A harsh sending off?

Replays showed that although Bayo didn’t use his elbow, he gave the referee a decision to make by shoving Emiliano Marcondes high in the chest and paid a heavy price, reducing his side to ten men with two-thirds of the game remaining and reducing Watford’s already very limited forward options for the next three matches.

What was your view of Bayo’s red card?

Leading by example

He may not had the captain’s armband but Mattie Pollock gave another captain’s performance at the heart of the defence.

The 23-year-old made several telling tackles and interceptions, had a new central defensive partner in James Abankwah, who also played very well, to help out and was constantly communicating with and encouraging his teammates.

Pollock’s leadership skills also came to the fore after Bayo was sent off as he was immediately over to the bench to talk to Cleverley and also at half-time and the final whistle, ushering his teammates away when some were doing their best to pass on their thoughts to the referee.

How impressed were you with Pollock’s performance?

Demands for change growing?

The support for Cleverley – and dissatisfaction with Pozzo – from the Rookery was again audible from the outset, but the intensity of it grew as the second half wore on.

What began with chants of ‘sign a striker’ from some fans, soon turned to ‘Gino Pozzo, get out of our club’ and ‘we want Gino out’ as the players continued to plug away to try and get something from the game.

Would you like to see a change of ownership and why?

Impressive Imran

Imran Louza returned to the starting XI after missing last week’s defeat at Coventry through injury and was another to deliver an outstanding performance.

The midfielder was everywhere as he prompted and probed for his side.

Although he was booked for dissent following the incident that ultimately led to Norwich’s goal, he was another who impressed with his behaviour at full-time, trying to hold teammates back as they made a beeline for the referee and also finished the game wearing the captain’s armband.

What did you make of the midfielder’s display?