Although three points became one in dramatic fashion in Plymouth, there were a lot of positives to be gleaned once the bitter taste had left the mouths of those in yellow.

Having struggled to string together coherent 90-minutes performances on the road, this was a night when Watford left the ground disappointed not to have beaten a team that has only lost once at home.

“We’ve come here and performed as well as we have away from home,” said Tom Cleverley.

“At Swansea we were poor but in the game; at Sheffield Wednesday we were fantastic and at Leeds for an hour it was one of our best performances.

“So the last four away games have been solid, and if we replicate those then we’ll pick up our fair share of results on the road.

“It is progress and I cannot be angry with that performance.”

Having so often been pushed back from the first whistle in away games, this was a total contrast.

“I felt the start was fantastic and we didn’t look like a team that had been massively affected by the international break,” the Watford boss reflected.

“I thought we took control of the game straight away and scored when we were on top.

“I can’t remember us starting a game as well as that for a long time.

“There are a lot of positives to take from today and I said to the boys, who are hurting now and probably haven’t absorbed it, if we replicate that performance and continue the home form then we’re in a good place.”

As well as dominating in terms of possession and territory, the Hornets also carved out the best chances.

“I thought we created really decent opportunities away from home,” said Cleverley.

“Imran and Moussa gave us a lot of control and there were some good solid performances all over.

“I thought the team was really well balanced and we looked in control.

“It’s going to leave me a little bit puzzled, this result.

“We’ve all got big ambitions and we’re all in agreement of what we want to achieve this season.

“We want to be in the top six and challenge for promotion and every win is vital, so when you lose one from your grasp in the 95th minute in a game you deserved to win, it does hurt.

“The players are hurting.”