Dean Smith questions Aston Villa's commitment after convincing loss to Watford

Troy Deeney scored twice as the Hornets cruised to a 3-0 victory, despite playing most of the second half at Vicarage Road with 10-man following Adrian Mariapaa’s dismissal.

The defeat, Villa’s fifth in six league matches, means they will finish the year in the relegation zone.

Watford led 1-0 when the defender was dismissed and there were elements of controversy over both of their second half goals.

But Smith’s biggest frustration lay with his team’s performance in the opening 45 minutes.

He said: “The performance first-half is what lost us the game.

“I am sure we will go on to incidents which happened in the second half but the first-half performance was nowhere near good enough and I told the players that at half-time.

“I thought we got a reaction and started the second half better. We were more competitive with better workrate. But the first half wasn’t good enough.

“What were we lacking? Commitment, for one. I thought Watford looked more committed than we were.

“I thought they had a bit of fortune with the goal but the first-half, we can’t have performances like that.”

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster pulled off a superb save to deny Villa striker Wesley before Deeney deservedly put the home side ahead just before the break.

After Mariappa was given his marching orders, Deeney then doubled the lead from the penalty spot after falling under the challenge of Douglas Luiz, though the goal was shrouded in controversy.

Villa were furious when Watford played on despite Matt Targett being down injured.

“For me there is no controversy, it is not a penalty. They go shoulder to shoulder,” said Smith.

“Troy goes down easily and it is not a penalty. The trouble is we go to a VAR system at Stockley Park where there is no feel of the game, the atmosphere or what has happened.

“They just look at it and think there is no obvious error there. It is an obvious error there.

“It was a shoulder to shoulder and Troy has gone down easily. That should have been the end of it.

“People say we should have kicked the ball out but Jack (Grealish) didn’t know Matt Targett was down with a hamstring injury.

“Watford have won the ball out and decided not to put the ball out even though they knew he was down injured. That is their decision. I can’t do anything about that.”

Further controversy followed when Grealish appeared to be fouled by Etienne Capoue, allowing Watford to break on the counter from which Ismaila Sarr added their third.

“Jack gets fouled for the third goal and the referee plays on.

“The fourth official tells me their player touches the ball, or else it wouldn't be a foul. He obviously doesn't, so between four of them they've got it wrong.

"VAR looked at it in their ivory tower. It doesn't take that much longer (for the referee) to walk over the pitch.”