Mistakes were the order of the day in yesterday’s chaotic 3-3 draw at Coventry, and head coach Valerien Ismael felt the match officials were more guilty than most.

There were question marks, from an error perspective, about all three goals Watford conceded, and Coventry joined in by gifting the Hornets their third.

However, Ismael was clearly angry with referee David Webb, particularly for awarding Coventry their early penalty – which Daniel Bachmann saved – and then not pulling up Haji Wright for putting his hand in Ryan Porteous’ face in the move that led to the home side’s third goal.

Ismael said the penalty awarded when the ball struck Porteous, and referee Webb decided it was a deliberate handball, was particularly galling as Watford’s staff and players had met with referees’ representatives before the season started to discuss that exact situation.

“I cannot understand it because before the season we had a meeting with the referees’ manager and the players, and they showed us videos of exactly this situation, and the type of penalties,” he said.

“They told us it won’t be a penalty – and then it’s a penalty today.

“Last week against Blackburn there was a clear handball for us, but no penalty.

“That makes it difficult to understand the line from the referees.

“Then the third goal there is a clear fist in the face for Porteous. It was a foul from the striker.

“It was very difficult to understand today, so under these circumstances you have to take a point and get what you can.”

The Watford boss also readily admitted his side had shot themselves in the foot all afternoon long.

“Too many mistakes. Too many unnecessary mistakes,” he mused.

“But it is a good feeling that actually we feel we lost two points, rather than saying we got a lucky point.

“Maybe some games will be different but today is more the feeling is that the result is on us. It’s our mistakes, it’s our fault.

“It’s a good feeling though, because we can change it.”

When asked about Coventry’s opening goal when Milan van Ewijk curled a free kick past Bachmann, Ismael said his initial impression was his keeper should have done better.

“I haven’t watched the replay back, but my feeling was that he should have stopped the ball,” he said.

“That was my feeling, but I’ll need to watch the situation back.”

Of course, the goal that has been flying around social media and will doubtless be shown on TV several times was Coventry’s second, when Wes Hoedt turned away from a Coventry player inside his own half and saw his attempted back pass to Bachmann go past the keeper and into the net.

“We had taken the lead and the momentum was away from Coventry. You just got the feeling inside the stadium that we were on top,” said Ismael.

“It was just a case of staying calm and sticking to our game plan, to stay brave with the ball.

“And then you concede that goal and the momentum changed completely and it was a different game.

“But I was pleased with our reaction to conceding that goal, because I can imagine other teams would drop mentally and lose the game.

“But we came back straight away and scored again.”

Ismael admitted that because of the way he wants his team to play, especially when they are in possession of the ball at the back, it means there is a greater chance of things going wrong.

“Like I have said, we know we have to reduce the mistakes. The way we want to play, we know we will have mistakes but we need to reduce them.

“It was a decision. It’s all about decision making. If you know that you want to play that ball then we have to be earlier in the position.

“Don’t wait too long for the pressure from the opponent, especially when you are not in a comfortable position.

“On that goal it was just decision making. The decision making was not right.”

Hoedt headed towards the travelling fans at the final whistle and was clearly making efforts to signal his apologies.

“He has reacted positively. He is an experienced player who is very important for us and we have to accept this is part of the game,” said Ismael.

“I was a player, I made mistakes, I scored own goals. Unfortunately it is part of the game.

“We cannot blame him. We spoke with him and talked about decision making, and that he has to be clear, he has to be earlier.

“If after today we see Wesley with always the right decisions, then we’ll remember the situation today and say that was the moment when the switch flipped in his mind to take the right decision.”

Having seen replays of the third Coventry goal, it is clear there is contact between Wright’s hand and Porteous’ face, which led to the Scottish international falling to the floor.

Play continued, Wright dragged the ball back and Matty Godden – whose earlier penalty had been saved – scored.

“It was not a hand, it was a fist. It was a fist in the face,” said Ismael.

“I know Ryan Porteous well. A Scottish guy, a really strong guy, and we saw it clear on the footage.

“I can’t understand the linesman, it is right next to him.”

Even allowing for the facial contact, should Porteous have stayed on his feet?

“If you get a blow in the face in that one second, it is difficult,” said Ismael.

“I want my players to stay strong, no weakness, but on one like that it is difficult.

“We need the support of the referee, or VAR in the Championship.”

Did the Watford boss talk to referee Webb and his colleagues after the game?

“It makes no sense to speak with the officials,” said Ismael.

“Every time it’s the same: we have a meeting before the game, we are told things – and then in the game, those things are completely different. Completely the opposite.

“So I have just learned that is makes no sense to discuss, we just have to accept that sometimes the performance is not good: it can be from the players, but today it was not good from the referee from my point of view.”