Watford manager Malky Mackay believes on-loan Aston Villa striker Andreas Weimann is currently “trying too hard” to score.

Weimann, who has scored twice in 14 appearances for the Hornets, was one of Watford’s standout players in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Hull City but he was unable to score the goal his display deserved after missing a glorious chance to equalise in the first half.

The Austrian has not found the net since February 19 - a run of eight games - although he has only returned to the starting XI in the last two fixtures.

Mackay said: “He is a really talented youngster. He is an Austrian Under-21 international and he is only 19. He is someone who I have monitored and the boys took to him immediately when he came in here because he is a great trainer and he is someone who works so hard on the pitch.

“At the moment he is trying too hard to score because I see him in training and he is certainly clinical.

“There is a reason he is at Aston Villa and a reason he is an Austrian Under-21 international and I think he is going to be a top player. At the moment, he is just trying to hard to score.”

An error from Lloyd Doyley led to Corry Evans breaking the deadlock inside three minutes but after that Watford were the better side going forward.

The Hornets had 15 attempts at goal during the match but were unable to beat Brad Guzan and the visitors doubled their lead in the final minute of normal time through Robert Koren.

Martin Taylor set up a tense finish by pulling a goal back and in the fifth minute of injury time, Marvin Sordell had a great chance to equalise but couldn’t finish from close range.

“I think we created enough really good chances to win two games and sometimes it is about the rub of the green,” Mackay said.

“I felt the same at Coventry last week, where we created a lot of chances, but certainly before today [Saturday], I asked the boys to make sure between now and the end of the season we went for it in every game and we tried to win every game and really compete.

“I think we did that today. We had a poor goal in the first minute or two, it was poor defending from us, but after that I thought we stepped on, created two or three really good chances in the first half and continued that in the second half.

“At half time, again I asked them to be bold and step forward and I think with the chances we created today, I think their goal mouth was leading a charmed life.

“Again the second goal could be avoided, it was a poor piece of play from us to allow them to break. Even then after that, we scored a goal and we had a chance on their goal line in the last minute to get something out of the game.

“So I think with the amount of chances we had, on another day they go in.”

Watford are now eight points from the play-off places with six games left to go but Mackay has not given up yet.

He said: “What is going to happen between now and the end of the season is what has happened up to now - everybody is cutting each other's throat and I don't see that changing.

“Somebody needs to go on a little run. There are only six or seven left for teams but if you go on a run then you can be in the play-offs.

“I am delighted we have a game on Tuesday night and it will be a real good test for us. I am delighted we have that game because I am proud of the way they played and I am proud of the way they stepped on and tried to win the game.

“I have a group in there who are really disappointed with the result but I asked them to believe in their ability and go and show it. I believe they did that in all but scoring the goals.”