ON a day when the Hornets lost their place at the top of the Championship pile, gaffer Aidy Boothroyd was in no mood for excuses as his side crashed to their third successive home defeat.

After a heroic welcoming for midfielder Al Bangura at half time and tremendous support from the home crowd, a tip-top home win would have been the icing on the cake but Boothroyd's lackluster troops were again stifled in front of their own supporters.

The manager was as disappointed as those walking away from the Vic as another precious three points went begging.

He said: "There was a football match to be played here today, we're professionals and we have to get results and today we didn't and I'm annoyed about that.

"Teams come here and they try and stifle us and I'm sure Paul Sturrock has said that too. We had enough chances to win the game and we also had enough warnings that they could take something and at the very end they did."

After a prolonged period at the top, the Hornets are now facing up to a Christmas campaign in second place and chasing the in-form Baggies. Boothroyd must hope that this galvanizes his side and brings them back to their best in time for the new year.

"I'm in a position now where we've been at the top for four months or so and everyone has been saying different things about us, because that's the nature of football. Now someone else is at the top and we've got to make sure that we bounce back. It's as simple as that really.

"We've got a very good opportunity in the next few matches to win and to get some points on the board. I'm sure there will be some more twists and turns before the end of the season."

After not producing the goods in front of a sell-out crowd at the Vic - an improvement in home form is a priority especially with the way the fixtures fall over the festive period.

Boothroyd added: "I think the priority for us is to win at home. We've got two home games coming up and we've got to win them.

"I would like a game tomorrow and I wouldn't care whether it's home or away, we've got some things to put right. Today wasn't acceptable for me, especially as the reception for Al Bangura was so good. It works both ways." 

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