THERE were no hard luck stories at Vicarage Road yesterday with manager Adrian Boothroyd admitting his team just "did not have enough" after yesterday's 1-1 draw with Manchester City ensured Watford were relegated to the Coca-Cola Championship.
After just one season in the top flight, Boothroyd was realistic enough to recognise that his side had been found wanting as the near inevitable was confirmed.
Gifts have been forthcoming from Watford all season and it was horrific error from on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster that allowed Darius Vassell to give City a 53rd-minute lead. The home side's substitute Tamas Priskin found an equaliser 15 minutes from time but it was all too little too late.
"We now know what is required for this league, and we did not have enough of it," Boothroyd candidly admitted. "It was an individual error from Ben, but he has been magnificent for us this season, and earned us many points.
"I think we can come straight back up, but it will be very tough, and we need to bring in one or two players."
Boothroyd's side were up against it from the start of the season, failing to record their first league win of the campaign until early November. They have won just three more league matches since, with their run to the FA Cup semi-finals proving as irrelevant as it was a welcome relief.
"Our fans have been good enough, but maybe this time around we're not. The league does not lie," added the Watford manager.
"We will look to keep the nucleus of the squad together. No-one will raid us, and no-one will go. Nobody has died. It is not a time to be sad and say if only'. It is a time to reflect, and make sure we build on all the good things from this season."
City were as poor as Watford, but the home side once again lacked the guile to break down the visitors' defence, before Stuart Pearce's side were presented with the lead by that Foster mistake.
Collecting a back-pass from Lloyd Doyley, the recently-capped England international attempted to pass the ball to Chris Powell but could only direct it to Vassell, who guided the ball into the unguarded net from 25 yards.
Foster returns to Old Trafford in the summer and the travelling City fans took pleasure from his error.
Boothroyd's decision to introduce Tamas Priskin for Steve Kabba paid off in the 75th minute when the forward equalised. Douglas Rinaldi found him in space with a clever pass, and Priskin drilled the ball past Andreas Isaksson from 15 yards.
The point, though, was not enough for Watford, but the lesson from the season was not lost on Boothroyd.
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