The lack of quality his players displayed in the final third was why Watford let two precious points slip away against Rotherham.

That was the view of head coach Slaven Bilic after a frustrating afternoon at Vicarage Road.

The 1-1 draw means Watford are third but 13 points behind Sheffield United in second – and with the Blades having a far superior goal difference, that’s pretty much like having an extra point.

Yet the Hornets had enough possession in the final third against the Millers to have won the game.

“You can call it killer instinct, you can call it decision making, you can call it quality. It’s all part of what we have lacked,” admitted Bilic.

“The guys in the team have it. They all have it. But in the 90 minutes today that sort of thing was missing.

“And of course that leaves us disappointed. Two more points would leave us that little bit nearer the top two, but every point counts.

“We played well against Blackpool, we knew the game today was going to be hard – every game is hard – but we were counting on taking three points.”

Bilic said that too often good moves forward floundered when Watford got near the Rotherham box.

“We started well and were getting into good positions, especially on the right side. They played very narrow and we got into good situations to go into the box and create something.

“But the good quality there was missing, and that was our problem throughout the whole game.

“We were coming into the final third in good situations and it came to nothing.

“I told the players I couldn’t ask more from them. They gave everything. And I said the same after Norwich and after Blackpool.

“But right now we are missing quality in the middle of the park, and especially up front.

“You can’t rely on the kids to be consistent, week in week out.

“We were getting into good situations and then it’s a matter of whether you can win their individual duals. So many times we were one against one in a promising situation, and then it’s all about quality.”

One bright spot was a fine goal from Joao Ferreira on his full debut.

“It was a great goal, a great finish and a great strike from a not easy position. He took it really well,” said Bilic.

“We scored in good time, it wasn’t like we left ourselves five minutes to go. There was enough time for us to win the game.

“They created the best chance of the second half, maybe the best chance of the game, when Bachmann saved.

“We created more of those chances that are not maybe 100% chances but we had quite a few.

“The ball didn’t stick through the middle, and we had some poor crosses and poor reaction in the box when the ball was bouncing around.

“The amount of time we were around the box, you’re like ‘yeah, come on, do something’. That something was missing together.”

The two players making their full debuts – Ferreira and winger Matheus Martins – struck up a good relationship very quickly.

“They have built a good understanding, yes,” said Bilic.

“But if you want to be brutal in just the first 15 minutes alone we got into good positions but it didn’t lead to chances. We didn’t end up with a cross or a shot.

“Too often what we did wasn’t creating a chance, forcing a save, winning a foul. We were getting throw-ins or things were blocked.”

The next six games will most likely be decisive in where Watford finish the season, as they face the teams currently first, second, fourth and sixth in the table

“Yes we do play a lot of the teams at the top, but then they also have to play us,” said Bilic.

“I try not to moan and this isn’t me moaning, but we are lacking the majority of our best players. They aren’t on the pitch because they aren’t available.

“They are on the verge of coming back but it won’t be for the next game. Hopefully a few of them will come back for the game after.

“We have to keep fighting, keep creating and do the best with the squad we have. We also want to add some players, and then bring the injured players back onto the pitch as soon as possible.

“Until we can do that we have to continue to try to win as many points as we can.”