The Hornets have missed the rallying support which spurred them on to wins against the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United, but will look to find that same inspiration from within in the final six matches according to Craig Shakespeare.
The Assistant Head Coach admitted some clubs have been quicker to adapt to the new atmosphere in stadiums and expects Watford to find their feet again as they acclimatise to the new normal.
“At home, sometimes a tackle gets the crowd going. We’re playing in new circumstances and new surroundings and we’re trying to adjust to it,” he said.
“We’re finding it more difficult but it’s not for want of trying. You look at the games we’ve had, and you can get a slower tempo and the emotion taken out of it at times. All clubs are getting used to it.
“We’re all human beings at the end of the day and we react in different ways, whether it’s pressure or whether it’s tension, I’m not so sure.”
The team motivated themselves to come back from a late setback and salvage a draw against Leicester but have since struggled to find any real rhythm.
Shakespeare thinks one win and the confidence it brews could bring about a run of form to end the season strongly.
“If you take the first result against Leicester, everyone was saying we showed great character in getting a point back and deserved a point,” he said.
“If you then put in context the Burnley game’s first-half performance, it wasn’t us, and then the same with the Southampton performance.
“We know that with one result your season can change very quickly. Sometimes when the tension is there as well it’s our job as coaches and staff to ensure that they’re relaxed but they have a desire and a tempo to play, and that’s what we’ve been working on this week.”
With teams dropping points regularly at the bottom, one win could give the team some vital breathing space and West Ham proved last night how those crucial three points can come from anywhere.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look at other people’s results, but I think the focus has to be on what we do,” said Shakespeare.
“But we’re not looking to the next game and the next game, it’s the Chelsea game we have to concentrate on.
“Do we worry about other results? I think it’s human nature that you look and we haven’t stopped players discussing things, but there has to be a focus on us.”
