Goalkeeper Dan Bachmann voluntarily spoke to the local media following last night's game at Elland Road, apologising to his teammates and the supporters after his errors led to the 2-1 defeat against Leeds.

Often getting players to talk to the media can be tough even after a win, it’s harder still following a defeat and nearly impossible when the player in question has probably cost his team the game.

So for that to happen, and for Bachmann to wait around in his kit until after the main press conference had finished, is virtually unheard of.

“I’ve let the lads down today,” he said.

“As a goalkeeper if you make a mistake there’s usually only one outcome and that’s all part of the game.

“I’m disappointed because the way the lads played they deserved to get a bit more today - we reacted well to the start we had.

“And I can only apologise to the fans who have travelled such a long way to watch us play and lose because of the mistakes I made.

“I’ve apologised to the lads in the dressing room too, and I just hope the supporters who travelled can have a half-decent journey back.

“I let them and the team down, but when you are a goalkeeper and make mistakes that’s what happens.”

The Austrian international shared his thoughts on the two that went past him.

“The first one the ball moved a little bit, I was caught in two minds and it’s slipped through my fingers,” he recalled.

“I need to watch it back to understand that one more, though I don’t really want to.

“I don’t think I’ve ever made an error like that in my career, and so I’m quite lucky in that respect.

“For the second goal there was a slight deflection on the cross, I saw a striker coming in the corner of my eye and the ball was spinning.

“I should have gone and caught it, I half pulled out and then it’s fallen straight to their player. I made the wrong decision in that split-second moment.

“They were two mistakes on my part which let the team down.”

Bachmann praised his 10 outfield teammates for the way they responded.

“I’m really proud of the lads for the way they performed, especially in the second half which I thought was one of our best performances in a long time,” he said.

“I don’t think many teams come to a place like this and play the way we did for periods of the first and most of the second half.

“When we had the ball we cut through them quite easily with a lot of desire and intensity.

“The first 10 minutes of the second half were incredible and I don’t think that happens here very often.

“You could have heard a pin drop at the start of the second half, apart from our fans.”

It’s been a difficult few days for Bachmann, who returned from injury at Luton on Saturday only to seem to struggle throughout, which limited his kicking.

“It was the first time in my career I’d had a quad injury and you’re a bit wary,” he said.

“When you’ve had an injury before you know what the feelings are, but I didn’t know what to expect.

“I’ve kicked about 30 balls today so there are no issues there.”

Did the events of the first seven minutes last night dent his confidence?

“Not at this stage in my career. If you were younger and in a stadium like this then it can get intimidating.

“But I’m 30 years old and played in a lot of big stadiums and big games.

“Mistakes happen, but the biggest thing is how you react to them. I can’t change it now.

“I felt like I reacted well and made saves in the second half.”

It was put to Bachmann that stepping forward to speak to the media after such a bad night personally indicates he must care for Watford.

“I’ve been here for seven and a half years, and I hope people understand how much I care for this football club.

“I do a lot of work in the community because I want to, and because the football club has given me a lot in my life and my career, and so have the fans and the people.

“I’ll get a lot of pelters for my mistakes tonight which is understandable, and the supporters have the right to do that.

“I’m only human as well, and today my mistakes have cost us.

“What hurts me even more is the lads played so well.”