From months without a home win to four in the space of a fortnight – Vicarage Road looks and feels a happy place again.
Clearly there is still a long way to go in the season, but in just 14 days the feel-good factor of an afternoon or evening in WD18 is returning for fans who have been starved of success on their own turf.
“We’ve capped off the run of four home games with four wins, and I think we’ve turned over the bad feeling that we had around here when we didn’t win for so long,” said Tom Cleverley.
“Now we have a real reputation for being a solid, hard to beat home team.
“It’s nice to send people home with smiling faces. It’s what we want.
“We want to reunite and reconnect with the supporters, but as I keep saying I won’t allow us to take that feeling for granted.
“We will work hard every single day to make sure those smiles stay.”
Watford will be one of the names in tonight’s draw for the third round of the Carabao Cup for the first time since 2021.
For some, an extra game or two at this time of year might be an unwanted sideshow, but the Hornets are more than happy to be progressing because that means they are winning.
“We want to give every game we play because I think it’s good for the health of the squad when you’ve got 18 or 20 players and there are games for everyone to play in,” said Cleverley.
“I was at Aston Villa as a player when we were really struggling in the league, and the cup run we had really galvanised everyone.
“I know how important cup runs can be.”
The Watford head coach was asked after the win over Plymouth if the start has exceeded even his own most positive ambitions.
“I’ve not reflected at all, and that’s my honest opinion because you just don’t get time to reflect,” he replied.
“I think Sunday will be six games in three weeks, so maybe next week during the international break we’ll get time for that reflection and take in that it’s been a positive start.
“But now we’ve won this game the attention just turns immediately to Sheffield United.
“It’s a football thing. You might dwell on your losses but your wins keep you content and you just move onto the next one.
“It’s important though that you do find time to reflect, and the international breaks give you the chance to do that.”
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