Manager Joe Royle admitted that his side were again poor as they lost 1-0 at home to Watford. The Town boss says he would like to make wholesale changes but does not have the personnel to do so.

Royle, who will continue to scour the loan market, said: "After the result today I'd like to say there will be sweeping changes next week but there won't. I'd like to bring someone fresh in but I have to be realistic.

"We have had injury problems all season but that's no excuse for not having a shot on target in 90 minutes. We were poor, we cannot get away from it.

"We had to go for goal so I took a chance by putting on an extra forward, but in the second half we just died in midfield and carried no threat up front.

"I am looking for strong people. It's not a fitness thing but it's not as easy to play at home as it was last year. We ended up disjointed and I can understand the attitude of the fans.

"Sito Castro was terrific and young Shane Supple brought off a fantastic save and I think we can hold our own in this division when all my midfield players are fit again. We certainly lacked authority with three first-choice midfielders missing."

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd had special praise for scorer Ashley Young: "Ashley has come through our system and, although he still has plenty of learning to do, he has come a long way in a short space of time,.

"He has an excellent attitude and as soon as I took over I put him in the team because I consider him to be a match winner. He has flowered and responded by becoming one of our main players.

"I was proud of my team. We were anxious to start with but ground-out a good result.

"We are in a transitional period. A lot of players came in and out during the summer and now they are all getting to know one another."

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