It was a good job that yesterday evening was a hot and sunny affair, otherwise the performance at Wycombe would probably have felt even more concerning.

With the usual caveat that pre-season games are training matches in public, sitting through Watford being beaten and often outplayed by a home side that finished just above halfway in League One last season would have been grim had it been cold and wet.

There are just over 10 days to go until both sides begin their league campaigns, so there is no reason why Wycombe should be any further ahead in their preparations than the Hornets.

And while there were a number of players you might expect/hope to be involved at Millwall on August 10 absent last night, that didn’t mitigate for a limp display that showed major issues at both ends of the pitch.

Watford have been too easy to score against in pre-season: they’ve conceded 17 times in seven games so far, and while six of those came against Premier League Fulham, their only clean sheet was at National League South side Boreham Wood.

Putting aside the home side’s equaliser – play to the whistle is always the best mantra, even if a referee in a pre-season friendly should probably stop the game when he can see a player writhing around in agony – the other two goals were sloppy in as much as the Watford defence were twice beaten to loose balls in their own box.

That means very little in pre-season, but do the same in competitive league games and it’s almost bound to cost points.

While shipping 17 goals this summer, the Hornets have scored nine in seven games. That is roughly 1.3 goals a game – the rate they scored at last season in the Championship.

Obviously comparing seven games in pre-season with a 46-game league campaign might be stretching things a bit, yet the fact remains that Watford are not currently a team overflowing with goals, or goal threat in particular.

After Giorgi Chakvetadze’s excellent opener in the 12th minute last night, it’s hard to recall an on-target attempt of any significance until Mileta Rajovic pulled one back 80 minutes later.

You can be a team that is a touch porous at the back, and you can be a team that is a little shot-shy up front. You don’t find many successful teams who combine the two.

There is a distinct, fresh shape and style under Tom Cleverley, but what hasn’t changed during pre-season is the lack of new faces in key positions.

The obvious problem that pokes you in the eye when Watford go forward is the lack of a No.9 who can do what the head coach – and the other players – need.

Kwadwo Baah has done a decent enough job there, especially bearing in mind he’s converting from being a winger and he has only played 66 hours of senior football in his career.

But having had nearly three months to do the groundwork, it would be an indictment on the club's recruitment if Watford kick-off the season with a 21-year-old winger without a minute of playing experience for the club leading the line on the opening day.

The way Watford are playing requires a No.9 who can not only hold the ball up and bring others into play, but has the skill and mobility to turn and run, get in behind, drag defenders around.

In his brief cameo last night, Mileta Rajovic just didn’t offer that – though once again he scored from close range.

He did that 11 times last season to his credit, but the lack of a single assist in 43 appearances for Watford is a telling statistic.

A No.9 that fits the Cleverley criteria arriving during this transfer window is an absolute must, especially as the Hornets appear to have the options they need in the No.10 position with which to make the most of a suitable foil.

Chakvetadze was every inch the player he looked at the Euro 24 finals last night, running at defenders, jinking left and right and generally making the home rearguard backtrack.

Tom Ince has shown he can do an intelligent job in that role, Rocco Vata (who missed last night through illness) has displayed already how exciting he is, and should the rumours of Yaser Asprilla’s departure be incorrect then he is made for the role.

There is also the likes of Academy player Amin Nabizada. He may only have turned 17 last month but, if Watford are to get back to the club we remember where homegrown talent that was good enough was also considered old enough, then the likes of Nabizada have to be given their chance and our support.

After all, it would be ultra hypocritical of us, as fans, to bemoan the fact that for years we’ve seen no players ‘come through the ranks’ at Watford if, when they do, the reaction is that we need more than kids…

Another youngster who has definitely impressed this summer, and did so again last night, is midfielder Leo Ramirez-Espain.

He doesn’t turn 18 until October, and yet in pre-season he has looked like he’s been playing first-team football for years – demanding the ball, confident on it, willing to take responsibility.

He may have found the more aggressive, in-your-face approach Wycombe adopted last night more difficult to deal with, but that is something that good coaching and more game time can help with.

James Clarridge also looks quite a find. The lanky defender joined from Nottingham Forest in February, and caught the eye for the Under-21s last season.

He’s looked equally composed and competent in the first team during pre-season and, while it’s very early to judge, he’s another who could provide an option in an area where the club might otherwise have had to look to the transfer market.

Where there is a gap is at left wing-back.

James Morris is a more traditional full-back who has given his best in the more attacking role, but it’s clearly not his forte.

Ken Sema is a more natural fit but he missed last night’s game after rolling his ankle in training, and last season was one where he spent more time in the treatment room than ever before.

The wing-back position is key to the 3-4-2-1 formation that Cleverley wants to play, as it creates so much space on the flanks to attack – but also means there is a large part of the pitch to defend.

If a No.9 is crucial to what the head coach is attempting to deliver, then a marauding left-footer who can get forward and cross a ball, but also get back and do the hard yards, is surely next on the list?

Encouragingly after last night’s game, Cleverley didn’t duck the opportunity to express his disappointment in the performance as well as highlighting the areas where things fell short of his expectations.

It’s always a good sign when a head coach sees the things the rest of us see, and is prepared to say so.

He also spoke of the need to do more transfer business before the window shuts at 11pm on August 30.

A poor performance in a 3-2 away defeat at Wycombe in pre-season is not going to make or break the season.

Lack of reaction from the club to the issues, gaps and shortcomings would, though.