Despite being far more soundly beaten on Saturday than the 2-1 scoreline suggests, Tom Cleverley insists Watford are still in the mix for the play-offs.

The Hornets are outside the top six after losing at Burnley, but have a game in hand on most of those above them.

Cleverley is adamant that, despite the morale-sapping afternoon at Turf Moor, his team are right in the promotion picture.

“Absolutely we are. Maybe the game in hand we had has gone today but we are contenders,” he said.

“I think we’ve done enough this season to prove that.

“It’s a game at a time now and we have to work towards fulfilling that objective.

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“The season we got promoted when I was a player I think we were seventh at this stage of the season.

“It can be done but it needs a hell of a good run. I think we won 10 out of 11 games.

“The three at the top of the league, along with Sunderland, the quality of players and the quality of coach, the superior mindset they have over the rest of the league – I think you’ve got your top three in there.”

Cleverley reflected on the promotion season he had with Watford in the Championship.

“It’s a completely different team,” he said.

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“We had a team full of players that had just been relegated out of the Premier League. They were Premier League standard players.

“In our team we have a lot of young potential that is unproven – it’s chalk and cheese.

“We had a lot of players on Premier League salaries as well so that played a part.

“I like the potential my team has, but it’s about working hard to ensure they fulfil that.”

The head coach was asked if the defeat at Burnley was the low-point of the season.

“I think getting beat 3-0 at your local rivals is going to be hard to beat,” he replied, “but I feel like every time we get to that level where we feel this is the game that really kicks us forward, and says we’re maybe more than just a play-off contender, we get knocked back.

“It’s disappointing that we’ve got to that level on the back of a six-game unbeaten run, had a great win against West Brom last week, and then when we ask can we produce that performance to spring us forward and give the whole club the belief that we’re maybe more than just a play-off contender, we haven’t managed to clear that hurdle.”