Taylor angry as Watford continue to wobble

Watford's winter wobble continued as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at the Reebok Stadium yesterday.

They head for Selhurst Park and Saturday's match against Crystal Palace on the back of four successive defeats that have hit their promotion challenge.

After a 15-game unbeaten run at the start of the season, Watford's slide has left them 10 points adrift of First Division leaders Fulham.

Manager Graham Taylor slammed his players following the latest setback when elementary errors led to the squandering of an early lead and a result that enabled Bolton to move into fifth place, level on points with Watford.

Taylor said: "We were rubbish. All three goals in the game were given away."

Watford's chief culprit was skipper Robert Page, who dropped two clangers.

"It's all about basics," said Taylor. "You can't expect to shepherd a ball out that is probably a yard from the goal line. Then, when you give the ball away, almost on the edge of your final third as we did, it is simply asking for trouble.

"That is one of the reasons we are playing in this division and not the one above."

Yet Watford could not have had a better start, Tommy Smith accepting an underhit back pass from Paul Warhurst before tucking the ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen for his sixth goal of the season after only five minutes.

However, Watford failed to capitalise and, after beefy Ian Marshall arrived to rough up the visitors, they either conceded possession too easily or were caught offside when the ball was played forward.