This was the first game played after the players had been asked to take a 12% wage cut as the seriousness of the club’s financial position, in the wake of the collapse of ITV Digital and the overspending of the Vialli era, became clear.

Icelandic striker Heidar Helguson was at the centre of two pivotal first-half minutes as Watford toppled high-flying Sheffield United.

Within the last seven days the severity of Watford’s financial mess has been dramatically highlighted, the club’s staff both on and off the pitch have volunteered an unsecured 12% deferment of wages, and administration has been spoken of as a serious possibility for the first time. One of the most distressing weeks supporting the football club that many of us can remember.