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One stat shows Watford need handbrake off at Vicarage Road

Sometimes when you are looking at statistics you have to check them because they just don’t seem right.

And while raw numbers don’t always tell the whole story, when it comes to summing up results and performances at Vicarage Road, this one does:

Watford have only been leading twice at half-time in their 16 home Championship games this season.

One of those was right back on the opening day of the season when the Hornets ripped into QPR with what now looks like a particularly cavalier and attacking performance from the first whistle.

The only other, and therefore most recent, occasion when they have been ahead at the break was in the 5-0 romp over Rotherham on November 11.

Indeed, since they hit four against Rangers in the opening 45 minutes of the season back in August, Watford have only scored 10 goals in the first half of 15 home league games.

Given the next two home fixtures at Vicarage Road are against teams currently sitting 20th and 18th in the league table, is now the time to let the handbrake off right from the start?

“It could be, but you also always have an opponent who has their own game plan,” said Ismael.

“It’s more, at the beginning, to see what is happening with the opponent and what is the picture.