Huddersfield Town

“It was always going to be a difficult game and we tried to warn everyone beforehand,” said Grayson following the 3-2 defeat.

“We came into the game as favourites and you have to be right at, but today we were below par. The players did ok, but didn’t do enough to win the game. We didn’t get close enough to them when they had the ball and when we had it we didn’t pass it well enough. That is what the Championship is all about, if you aren’t at it, you will get punished.

“I thought at 2-2 we could have hung in there or nicked a winner, but it didn’t work out like that. I am disappointed but I would have settled for where we are after eight games, at the start of the season.”

Watford’s winner came from the spot following Danny Ward’s foul on Fernando Forestieri and Simon had no complaints about the decision.

“I have seen the penalty again and Danny has made a tackle and not won the ball and the lad has gone over his leg. If the incident had been in the other box I would have been screaming for a penalty. I think it was the correct decision and sadly for us it cost us an opportunity to win the game.

“It was a tough match. They overloaded us in midfield and we could never get a foothold in the game, we didn’t have that zip about us. We will draw from the positives and the negatives and move on to Tuesday night.”

Jermaine Beckford made his home debut and worked hard in a goalless performance.

“I thought he did ok – he looked a little ring-rusty though,” said Simon. “He had been banished to the under-21s at Leicester before moving, so he was lacking a little bit fitness wise. He will get better game by game and when the ball is around the 18 yard box he will cause problems. He will score us goals during the three months that he is here – there is no question of that.”

Alan Lee scored his first goal of the season for the Terriers to level matters and Simon was pleased with the impact the Irishman made.

“We know what Alan will bring to the team. He has plenty of enthusiasm and will work defenders hard and today he has produced a fantastic finish to get us back into the game. The whole place was lifted by his goal, but sadly that soon disappeared.”

To finish Simon gave an update on James Vaughan who missed today’s defeat with a groin strain.

“We will assess James over the next 48 hours and see how fit he is. We want him to be involved because he has been immense since he joined us. If playing him on Tuesday will risk him being out for longer, than we won’t do it.”