Malky Mackay believes his side should have dealt better with Swansea’s second and arguably game-changing goal in their 3-1 defeat at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon.

After Ferrie Bodde had cancelled out Lee Williamson’s opener, the talented midfielder turned provider with a superb 50-yard pass that enabled Jason Scotland to pull away from Jay DeMerit and beat Richard Lee to make it 2-1.

“I think we gave a cheap [second] goal away,” said the Hornets caretaker boss afterwards. “Up to that point it was a fairly tight game, and I thought the second one was a cheap goal to give away. Once again we’re making individual errors, and I thought the second goal was a goal we could have stopped.”

In general terms and despite seeing them concede three more goals, Mackay was pleased with an improved defensive performance and the contribution of skipper Jay DeMerit.

The Scot said: “I need leaders to come to the fore. He’s my captain and he’s someone that I can hang my hat on. Those are the positives I’ve got to look at, that there’s guys who are going to rally the troops together.

“It’s been a good week, it’s been a week where we’ve actually instilled a little bit of confidence into the team and they’ve got a bit of belief and I think at times they showed that out there today.”