Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards said his promotion-chasing side learnt a harsh lesson in their 3-0 loss at Watford.
Edwards felt his Boro players were caught on the counter-attack by Watford on his return to his former club.
"It's a really disappointing result," he told BBC Radio Tees.
"I was actually really excited about this game and I thought we started well. It was about managing those moments and the biggest part of our message to the boys, as soon as we lose it, make sure we manage their counter-attacks and stop them switching it because they have pace in the wide areas, and we didn't do that.