Quique Sanchez Flores said he would try and look at the positives after Watford’s Capital One Cup defeat at Preston North End last night. He is unlikely to find any.

The Hornets’ display at Deepdale was as insipid as it gets. One shot on target against a newly-promoted Championship side tells its own story.

As expected Flores selected an entirely different starting XI to the one that began Sunday’s draw with Southampton. Seven of those starters played regularly last season. A campaign that ended in promotion. So this wasn’t a team of strangers or one devoid of quality.

However, Flores decided to stick with his 4-2-3-1 formation. It is a system that didn’t suit several of the players who started, especially striker Matej Vydra.

The Czech Republic international hadn’t featured under Flores until last night. It was his chance to impress but one he didn’t take. That isn’t solely Vydra’s fault, however.

Yes, the 23-year-old could have done more. He could have attempted to stretch the Preston defence by offering a constant threat in behind. Instead he continuously dropped deep to collect the ball.

But Vydra was given a thankless task. He is not built to play up front on his own. He isn’t physically strong enough to battle defenders, win headers and hold up the ball. It’s simply not his game.

“Vydra tried like the rest of players,” Flores said after the 1-0 defeat. “He tried to give his best but it was difficult to create attempts. But he tried. When a player does that you have to say thank you.”

They are hardly words of comfort. The transfer window closes next Tuesday and Vydra’s future remains uncertain.

But he is not the only Watford player whose future is up in the air. Scouts from 24 different sides were at Deepdale to watch the game, which was settled by an early goal from Marnick Vermijl.

Two of those scouts were from Middlesbrough. They were there to cast an eye over Almen Abdi.

The Swiss midfielder was captain for the night but it’s difficult to remember the 28-year-old having a less effective game in a Hornets shirt.

Fernando Forestieri – who Leeds United hold an interest in – started on the right flank and looked bright at points. But he ultimately offered little.

Miguel Layun and Ben Watson worked hard throughout. The latter had Watford’s best chance of the night when he forced Jordan Pickford into a good stop from 20 yards.

Midfielder Connor Smith was handed a rare first-team appearance but didn’t influence the game while right-back Juan Carlos Paredes and defender Gabriele Angella were solid on their return to the first-team.

The rest of the backline was made up of three debutants. Giedrius Arlauskis began in goal and was shaky, especially when coming to collect crosses.

Nathan Ake started at left-back and looked rusty. While centre-back Miguel Britos’ first Watford appearance will live long in the memory for the wrong reasons.

The former Napoli defender was suspended for Watford’s first two games of the season. A ban he’d received for head-butting Juventus’ Alvaro Morata in Serie A at the end of the previous campaign.

The 30-year-old hadn’t played for two months before stepping out a Deepdale. In the first half he was booked for a poor challenge.

And with 15 minutes of the second period remaining he was shown a straight red card for striking out at a Preston defender after going forward for a Watford corner.

Flores said the dismissal was unfair. The Hornets are likely to appeal the decision. If that appeal is unsuccessful Britos will be unavailable until September 27 when the Golden Boys face Crystal Palace.

Quite when those players who started at Deepdale are given another chance to impress down to Flores.

But with cup football no longer on offer until January, first-team opportunities are likely to be limited for the likes of Angella, Watson, Abdi, Forestieri and Vydra. Unless they leave Vicarage Road.

“During the week [a decision would be made on the future of Watford’s players],” Flores said. “Until the last day of the market players will be moving, not only at Watford. Players will move until the last minute. They market is always moving.”

He added: “They (the players that started against Preston) had the chance to show that they can make the squad list and play in the Premier League.

“The result isn’t good but the analysis I have to do is a little different. I am not a pessimist, I will try and look at the positives. When you lose a game you can learn thing very quickly.

“I would have liked to carry on in the competition because these players would have had more chances to show what they can do in competitive matches in official competitions.

“But we are out and we accept that. Now they have to train hard every day. They need to keep at a high level if they want to make the squad list at the weekend.”