Javi Gracia feels football is being cruel on Watford after watching his side lose again to another late goal in their 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield Town.

The Hornets were on course to pick up just a second away point under the Spaniard’s tenure from a disappointing contest in Yorskhire, only to be sunk by a goal from substitute Tom Ince in injury time.

“It’s the same as the last games,” Gracia bemoaned. “It’s the same feeling. In the first 15 minutes I think they dominated the game, they played more time in our half but after that we feel better and we played more in the opposition half.

“It was an equal game, they only shot one time on target and scored one goal. It’s the last minute of extra time again and we have lost the chance to get points. We need to improve and we need to try to get points in the next game.”

The Hornets were undone by a quick-fire double against Burnley last week, having conceded in injury-time at the hands of Bournemouth in the previous match, but Gracia does not feel his players suffer from lapses in concentration.

He countered: “I really think the players have a lot of concentration. They show desire, spirit and they want it but in this moment the game is being cruel with us.

“Many times I think we deserve more. Today has been an equal game but to lose the chance to get points in extra time again, I don’t know if it’s unfair but it’s very cruel."

He continued: “We feel very disappointed because we lose the chance to get points the same way, with a long ball, with a challenge, we were soft after that.

“I feel in this game the players were very concentrated but it wasn’t enough again. We need to improve for the next game against Crystal Palace and try to get points there.”

As well as costly defensive lapses, Watford’s problems on the road are exacerbated by their problems at the other end of the pitch – they have yet to score an away goal under Gracia.

The Hornets head coach said: “It’s a problem but every game is different. Today in an equal game, we had two shots on target, the other team only one. In the games before I think we created more chances, even missed a penalty in an away game [the defeat at Arsenal]. Every game is different. It will not be easy but we’ll try to improve in the next away games.”