Watford fans have seen as many wins at Vicarage Road already this season as they did in the final five months of the last campaign.

A day out in WD18 usually yielded some sort of reward for visiting teams, and Tom Cleverley said that simply had to change for 24/25.

Since he first stepped in as the club’s interim head coach and through to now, Cleverley has overseen eight games at Vicarage Road, winning five and drawing the other three.

The Hornets have scored 15 goals in that time, kept clean sheets in six of the eight games, and conceded only three times.

Contrast that with the eight home games before Cleverley took over: just one win (against Chesterfield in the cup), four games lost and not a single clean sheet.

There’s still more work to be done before Watford fans might feel they are inside a fortress at Vicarage Road, but the foundations are being laid.

“I did say to the players before the last two home games, against Plymouth in the cup and then Derby in the league, if you win these two games you’ll start building a reputation,” Cleverley said.

“We’re unbeaten at home since I’ve been in the job, winning more than we’ve drawn of those unbeaten games.

“Slowly you change the narrative from being vulnerable and lacking confidence and atmosphere at home, to being a side where opponents go ‘hold on a minute, that’s a hard place to go’.

“It’s something we can’t take for granted. The start has been key, but now we’ve started to get that more positive reputation it’s important that we make it into a bit of a snowball.”

The Watford boss explained that opposition players will look at results and see how other sides are getting on.

“I’d expect other teams to see the success we’re having at home at the minute, and the football we’re playing, and pay us respect,” he said.

“And that is our challenge now, because teams could come here and sit back like Derby did.

“That’s where I want to be though. I want to be a superior force at home. I want us to be feared at Vicarage Road.

“The players are the catalyst for that, and then the fans will get on board as they have done, and been brilliant at creating an atmosphere.

“I know better than anyone how important that is, because the last time we were promoted we won 19 out of 23 at home. It’s key to success.”

Cleverley knows what it’s like to be part of a club that is expected to win every home game, from his time at Manchester United.

“I’ve not thought about where it’s stemmed from, but I know the importance of it,” he said.

“You can look at every data point, every tactic, every system – but if you’ve got a solid defence and good home form you’re on the way to success.”