Watford suffered their third consecutive defeat and back-to-back home losses as Sheffield United continued their promotion push with a 2-1 victory at Vicarage Road.

The Hornets fell behind to Gustavo Hamer’s 13th-minute opener but equalised in superb fashion seven minutes later when the unlikely figure of Jeremy Ngakia broke into the six-yard box to finish off a superb move and score his first senior goal.

However, it was the Blades who netted what proved to be the winner when Andre Brooks curled home a shot eight minutes after the restart.

The home side’s best chance of an equaliser came through Giorgi Chakvetadze while they also had a strong case for a penalty late on, but it was the visitors who secured the points to take back up the M1.

Here are five talking points we’ve picked out from this afternoon’s game. You can tell us what you think by using the comments facility on the pitch.

Making big changes

Tom Cleverley’s response to back-to-back defeats and some bad defending was decisive, making five changes in personnel and switching formations. The Hornets adopted a 5-3-2 shape out of possession that switched to a 3-1-4-2 shape when they were attacking, before reverting to four at the back as they tried to get back in the game.

How did you feel the alterations in personnel and shape worked?

Lacking a cutting edge

After falling behind in the second half, Watford had plenty of possession and got into some promising positions but the only clear-cut opportunity they created to get back on terms was when Kwadwo Baah over-powered Harrison Burrows and set up Chakvetadze, but his effort was straight at keeper Michael Cooper.

That opportunity aside, the Hornets were again not clinical enough in and around the opposition box, although they can feel unlucky at not being awarded a penalty when Jack Robinson handled in the box.

What did you think of Watford’s efforts to get back on terms?

Paying the price for switching off – again

Although Brooks took the opportunity very well to score what proved to be the winner, the Blades’ second goal stemmed from a quickly taken free-kick which the hosts were slow to react to.

It was the third consecutive game in which Watford were guilty of shooting themselves in the foot and they again paid a heavy price.

How concerned are you by this?

A moment to savour

It has taken him almost five years since making his first-team debut for West Ham United but Ngakia was able to celebrate scoring his first senior goal after being the unlikely figure who popped up in the six-yard box to finish an excellent move and make it 1-1.

Ngakia, who was making his sixth start in the last seven games, was switched to left wing-back and proved a useful attacking outlet on that flank, particularly in the first half.

What did you make of Ngakia’s performance?

Changing transfer priorities

The spotlight was again on Dan Bachmann following his ill-considered – and almost very costly – Cruyff turn in the first half, but his serious injury means Cleverley may have to address the goalkeeping department during this transfer window.

Jonathan Bond may well have started in Thursday’s FA Cup tie at Fulham in any event, but the Hornets now need to decide whether to bring in another keeper this month or promote one of their younger stoppers while Bachmann is sidelined.

Do Watford need to sign a new keeper in January?