The slow starts and concession of early goals that have beset Watford recently are a result of basic defensive errors rather than players not being in the right frame of mind.

That is the conclusion of the head coach Tom Cleverley.

In each of the last four Championship fixtures, the Hornets have found themselves 1-0 down in five minutes or less and, as a result, have taken only four points from the 12 on offer.

Cleverley has gone back through the games so far this season to look at what has caused such a poor run from kick-off.

“I’ve reviewed every chance we’ve conceded in the first five minutes and I’d pigeon-hole it as the art of defending rather than the mindset at the start of games,” he explained.

“There are a lot of technical defensive mistakes we’re making rather than it being that we’re not ready.

“I’ve prepared the team the same way for every game, so in the same way we could have had real fast starts and scored early.

“If you really analyse it we’re making too many technical defensive mistakes and we’re getting punished for it.

“I’d like to put a big onus on the need for us to increase the intensity in our minds of all our defensive actions.”

The Watford boss sat through the full recording of the game at Carrow Road.

“I always watch our games back and for me, against Coventry and Norwich, it’s been too easy for opponents to create big chances against us,” he confessed.

“It’s not the sign of any successful Championship teams to do that, and it certainly can’t be a sign of any of my teams.

“We need to have the strong backbone that we showed in my other 15 games, and we need to get back to that.”

When you’re facing a Manchester City team that needs no help at to score goals, there can be no soft goals handed out.

Will Watford adopt a more cautious approach at the Etihad?

“I never like to talk about our game plans too much but it will be sensible,” said Cleverley.

“I always prefer to look at a glass and see it half full, and it’s an opportunity for us to cause an upset and for our lads to get minutes and stake a claim.

“If you’re not at the races or they are absolutely at their best it’s a very hard team to contain.

“We have a very clear game plan of how to win it, but also how to be very solid.

“It’s all about us executing that and if we do, I have no doubt we will be competitive.

“They are a world-class team and if they are in the right form then they can hurt you, but let’s go there with no fear and execute our game plan as well as we can.”