“There is only one way I can tell that properly, and it comes tomorrow night.”

That was how Tom Cleverley answered when asked how his players had reacted to the performance, result and feedback on Saturday at Kenilworth Road.

There needs to be a clear indication that the squad have absorbed what happened and, vitally, know how to put things right.

But, aside from discussing the game and training hard, how do players show that they have understood the magnitude of such a defeat?

“Like you say, I can tell you they’ve trained hard – which they have – but the only way we can tell how these players have reacted to the last two days is at Elland Road,” said Cleverley.

“We are a wounded animal right now, and they usually act aggressively.”

The Hornets haven’t lost two consecutive league games under Cleverley, but they have also lost their last five league and cup away games – and if they are to bounce back tomorrow then it will be at Leeds, who are unbeaten in five.

What is behind the poor away form that has beset the Hornets this season?

“It’s down to the mindset and approach,” said Cleverley.

“I’ve spoken to the staff that were here under Valerien, who had a good away record, to see if me or the staff are doing anything different in the way we prepare for away games – and the answer is no.

“So then you look at the confidence and the mindset of the players, and we went to Millwall on the first day against a physical team and won.

“Away at Man City we gave a very, very credible performance.

“Preston, Norwich and Luton we were nowhere near it.

“It goes back to consistency.”

The pattern in the last few games has been a good performance followed by a bad one, and then a better one again.

“One thing I would say about this group is we’ve not backed up a bad performance with another bad performance. We’ve always responded,” Cleverley agreed.

“But I have also always said the most successful teams in this division are the most consistent ones, and right now we are nowhere near consistent enough.

“Everyone can have a technically poor day, but if 100% of your team’s potential is their best performance, then off days have to be 60% or 70% and on Saturday we were nowhere near that.”