The club message in the programme relates to the Russo brothers quitting from the Watford board and then demanding back the money they had loaned the club. Various media outlets reported we were on the verge of administration but this was averted due to Lord Ashcroft paying off the £4.9 million demanded.

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Nottingham Forest extended their unbeaten away record but had to survive a spirited Watford display. Watford’s Don Cowie came closest to breaking the deadlock when his 77th-minute shot struck the post.

First off, one should perhaps (in the absence of Peterboro thunks) acknowledge that it’s rather good to actually have a club to trundle out to watch at silly’o’clock on Boxing Day. However genuine or otherwise the threat to the club’s future presented by Russo’s disgusting posturing in the wake of the AGM, it felt real enough. We’re here, watching football. That will do for starters; the future comes later.