Chris Wilder has been Watford head coach for three games, and after two of them a large chunk of his post-match press conference has been spent discussing timewasting and other antics that are grouped under the modern-day umbrella phrase of ‘game management’.

It was patently obvious at Loftus Road that once QPR got ahead, they would do anything they could to stop the flow of the game and break up any Watford momentum.

On Saturday, Wigan deployed similar methods – players dropping down holding their heads, or someone suddenly deciding that a teammate 30 yards away would be the right person to take a throw.

Wilder was clearly speaking slightly through gritted teeth on both occasions, as his side had failed to win – but he made it abundantly clear he wasn’t happy and felt football’s authorities needed to address the issue.

On Saturday, he even went to see the officials after the game to show them some support.

“I basically went and sympathised with the ref. It’s incredibly difficult,” said Wilder.

“The lad at the end went down in the box and it didn’t look like anything. What does the ref do? Does he run and tell people to play on, and then the boy has a head injury?

“If that happens then all fingers will be pointed at the referee and his assistants.

“I’ve been to see the referee Graham Scott and his officials because I wanted to know what their view was of it. I’m not hanging them out to dry because I think they know it’s a big issue as well, both at today’s game and in general in football.

“I don’t know what the answer is. If it’s a clock then I’m sure people will get round that. We’ve had 12 or 13 minutes added on again today over the two halves. Is it a yellow card straight away?

“I think it puts the referees in poor positions.”

With Wigan fighting to avoid relegation amid undertainty about when their wages will drop in their bank accounts, it’s understandable perhaps that they will do whatever they can to eke out some advantage in an effort to get points.

Wilder confessed he’s been on the other side of it, and it’s difficult to avoid taking that approach when the chips are down.

“I’ve been on both ends of situations. I’m completely sympathetic to what’s going off at Wigan because that’s happened to me on two occasions,” he said.

“I’ve had similar groups who are battling and scrapping to stay in the division.

“Is it the way I’d want to play if I was in that position? I’m not saying I wouldn’t, but I think it puts referees in unbelievable positions.

“There will always be game management, and there will always be the haves and the have nots. But people have paid decent money today to come and watch a game of football, and there will be neutrals among them.

“The overriding feeling from a Wigan supporters’ point of view is they will not care. They’ll be delighted with a point.

“From a Watford fan’s point of view there will be frustration with their team for not winning a game they possibly should have done.

“From a neutral’s point of view, they’ll look at it and think they can’t believe how stop/start it was.

“What’s happened today I would imagine has happened at 60% or 70% of the games over the weekend.

“It’s difficult because everybody does what they need to do to survive, and I’ve been in that position. But I thought it went to a different level today and against QPR.

“I think there is a line and I think it’s getting crossed.”