Watford’s unbeaten home run – and Tom Cleverley’s undefeated record at Vicarage Road as a head coach – is over after the Hornets were beaten 2-1 by Cardiff City in their final match of 2024.

The hosts were up against it from the first minute after Callum Robinson had fired the Bluebirds into the lead. But having seen their dominance in possession and territory rewarded by a Giorgi Chakvetadze equaliser, Watford shot themselves in the foot again as Robinson scored a second before the break.

Cleverley’s side were unable to turn the game around in the second half and struggled to create chances of note as the visitors, seeking their first away win of the season, did what they could to break up and disrupt the flow of the game.

Here are five talking points we’ve selected from Watford’s first home defeat of the season. Tell us what you think by using the comments facility on this page.

All good things come to an end

Cleverley has exceeded expectations by going unbeaten in his first 17 home games in first-team management and the run was always going to end at some stage, but the manner in which it did was disappointing and frustrating.

The Hornets have become something of second-half specialists under their head coach this season but having found themselves behind at the interval, this time there was no flourish after the break as the hosts failed to muster an on-target goal attempt.

What did you make of Watford’s attempt to come from behind in the second half?

Making life hard for themselves

Watford developed a bad habit earlier this season of conceding very early goals and this unwelcome trait reared its head again as the hosts fell behind inside the first minute.

Having made their possession and territorial supremacy count to get level though, the Hornets shot themselves in the foot again by conceding a second poor goal before half-time.

What did you make of Watford’s first-half display?

Porteous pays the price

The Hornets may have dominated the ball in the opening period but on the occasions when they defensively tested they were found wanting twice – and it was Ryan Porteous who paid the price at the break.

The Scottish international had looked shaky from the moment his side fell behind, but perhaps his most disappointing involvement came when he was allowed to travel a good 50 yards upfield with the ball unhindered, only to give it away when he decided to pass.

Were Watford’s defensive problems in the first half down to individual or collective shortcomings in your view?

Not taking a big chance

Watford struggled to create opportunities after the break but their best chance fell to Daniel Jebbison after a long throw was helped on Festy Ebosele and Francisco Sierralta, but the substitute was unable to convert with his head.

The substitute was stretching to reach the ball but had he anticipated the opportunity better, he would surely have equalised and scored the first goal of his loan spell.

It was a day though, when Cleverley’s changes did not pay off collectively.

How did you rate the contribution of the substitutes?

Dealing with delaying tactics

It was frustrating to watch, as it must have been to try and play against, but Cardiff’s approach of delaying and breaking up the game at every opportunity was understandable in their predicament.

Watford have managed to counter this tactic in the past but today there were unable to as they chased the game.

What would you like to have seen the Hornets do differently to try and deal with this approach?