'We were more than good value for a point' says Cleverley
Tom Cleverley felt his Watford team were good value for a point after losing 2-1 at home to Sheffield United this afternoon.
The head coach tasted three consecutive defeats for the first time, but said his team had the opportunities to have gone home with something.
“On the balance of the second half we were more than good value for a point,” he reflected.
“I can’t remember them having much in the way of chances, so it’s disappointing.
“They’ve got a British core of players that just know how to get the job done, and that’s what Chris does with his teams.
“One team knows how to win, and one team is a little bit new to it.
“There’s not much else you can say between the two teams: one has a winning habit and one hasn’t.
“They’re streetwise – I said to the players as we approached the month of December that this is the month that really finds individuals and teams out, and unfortunately it’s found us out.
“That’s why I’ve always banged on this year about how well we’ve dealt with setbacks because I always worried that it might just tip and we lose a few games.
“Now it’s my job to knuckle down and get this group back together because we’ve shown our fragilities in the last couple of weeks.”
It appears likely that Cleverley will be without keeper Dan Bachmann, who was stretchered off right at the end of the game after injury his ankle.
“I’ve not seen the actual incident back but early indications – and you don’t want to speak too soon on these things – are it’s not an ankle dislocation and it’s not a ruptured Achilles’ tendon,” said the head coach.
“They are two big serious ones we’ve ruled out.
“Hopefully we will continue to get good news on that.”
The Hornets appeared to be denied a second-half penalty when the ball struck the outstretched arm of Blades skipper Jack Robinson.
“It was a clear-cut handball, but I don’t think it comes into the stonewall penalty category,” said Cleverley.
“He’s two yards away when his teammate has headed it onto his arm, but his arm is an unnatural position – it’s stretched out.
“The ball has clearly hit his arm in the box and by the rules it’s a penalty, but you’d feel hard done by if it was given against you.
“I don’t think it’s a stonewall, but by the rules it is a penalty.”
