The Hornets were a clear second best in the first half and trailed at the interval after Sindre Walle Egeli volleyed the ball into the ground and past Egil Selvik after a Marcelino Nunez free-kick – harshly awarded from the home side’s perspective after Mattie Pollock clearly won the ball in a challenge – had spun up off the defensive wall.
Stephen Mfuni challenges Dan Neil (Image: PA)
Ed Still made changes at the break and his side were much brighter after the break, enjoying more of the ball and offering a greater attacking threat.
However, it was the visitors who scored the all-important second goal of the evening when George Hirst chested home a Jacob Greaves cutback.
The home side looked to have been handed a lifeline with seven minutes of normal time remaining when Tom Ince was pulled back in the area but the substitute was unable to capitalise from 12 yards, Christian Walton saving his spot-kick.
Here are five talking points we’ve picked out from tonight’s game. Tell us what you think by using the comments facility on this page.
Changing shape
The Watford head coach again shuffled his defensive pack in terms of personnel and he also opted to switch to five at the back.
It worked to an extent into restricting the opportunities Ipswich had but the Hornets were a clear second best in the first half, struggling to build attacks as their opponents dominated the ball.
What did you make of the change of system?
Shaking things up
Still continued with five at the back after the break but decided to shake things up by making a double change, Jeremy Ngakia and Edoardo Bove introduced for Jeremy Petris and Giorgi Chakvetadze.
The substitutions, doubtless coupled with what was said in the dressing room at the interval, resulted in a livelier Hornets performance after the restart and they started to enjoy more of the ball as a result.
Would you like to have seen a change of system as well as personnel for the second half?
A first real taste of the Championship
Having made his emotional return to football in the draw at Preston, Still’s half-time changes gave Bove his first prolonged taste of Championship football.
It will, understandably, take the Italian more minutes to get fully up to speed but some of his touches and decisions showed why he has been impressing in training.
Bove almost capped his home debut with a first goal in English football, curling a shot narrowly wide, but finished the game with his first yellow card.
What was your view of Bove’s display?
Improving all-round play
Luca Kjerrumgaard has shown he can score goals but one of the main criticisms of the striker’s game has been his hold-up play.
The Dane was unable to get on the scoresheet tonight but there was again evidence that his ability to make the ball stick and bring teammates into play is continuing to improve.
What was your opinion of Kjerrumgaard’s performance?
Play-off setback
Watford went into the game aiming to close the three-point gap to the play-offs. They ended it three points further adrift and are now six points – and six places – off sixth place.
That gap is far from insurmountable with 12 games remaining – and in a division as competitive and unpredictable as the Championship – but the defeat is clearly a blow to their chances.
How do you rate Watford’s play-off chances after tonight’s defeat?