It wasn't the return to Vicarage Road Nigel Pearson would have envisioned but Bristol City can leave Hertfordshire with their pride intact despite defeat at Watford.
On Pearson's first return to his former club following his dismissal in July 2020, City proved a stern test against an inconsistent Watford side who kept their own play-off hopes alive with a 2-0 victory - although Chris Wilder's side flattered to deceive for long periods.
The visitors played the better football and looked more organised but defeat came down to two soft goals, including the first which could make the end of season blooper reel when Cam Pring's clearance came back off Harry Cornick and into his own net.
It gave City an early uphill task and despite creating better opportunities, including Nahki Wells' free-kick off the crossbar, the timing of the second goal proved the killer blow after a bright start to the second period.
What was clear, however, was that despite sitting 14th place in the Championship, they'll be no respite between the final four games, with an intriguing fixture against Queens Park Rangers to conclude.
Here's the verdict from a frustrating afternoon in Watford.
Defensive limitations
For the second consecutive game, City's shortcomings at the back proved to be their downfall - only this time they couldn't provide the required quality going forward to leave with a point. Pearson criticised the soft goals conceded in the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough on Easter Monday and it felt like a similar tale this time around to further highlight where they need to improve heading into next season.
The opener bordered on comical after just six minutes. Jay Dasilva and Andi Weimann failed to react quickly enough to prevent the initial delivery before Pring clattered it into Cornick's midriff and into the net.
Watford's second goal wasn't particularly pretty viewing either as Pedro was allowed time to cut on his right foot and fire his effort through Max O'Leary with Zak Vyner's attempted block seemingly changing the trajectory. It's one he won't want to see again in a hurry.
Aside from that, the visitors largely dealt with Watford's threat relatively comfortably, limiting them to just four shots on target across the 90 minutes (City registered six in comparison).
Although it can't be ignored that City are playing with a makeshift backline and having a natural left-back playing through the middle will always have its limitations. As Pearson mentioned in his post-match press conference, it's a game of small margins and any lapse in concentration is prone to be punished.
Tuesday's trip to Sheffield United will now raise the debate as to whether Kal Naismith comes back as a central defender, allowing Pring to play in his favoured position, or stick with Jay Dasilva who has found some form approaching the season's end.
Going back-to-back
On Monday, I had written about City's progress on home soil having stretched their unbeaten run to eight matches following a tough couple of years playing at Ashton Gate. On the flip side to that, unless they can pull off a victory at Bramall Lane next week, the Robins will end the season without successive away victories.
Winning away from home in the Championship is no easy task but it's an area they will have to improve going forward. The away table puts City in 16th, having won five of their 21 matches and drawing seven. Out of the eight sides below them in that particular form guide, only Blackburn Rovers are higher in the league standings.
Perhaps that away form may come as a surprise given City's counter-attacking qualities, although the defeat at Watford was evidence of the other area where the club needs to improve and that's winning when they enjoy the majority of possession. City had 62 per cent on Saturday compared to Watford's 38.
When the question was put to Pearson after the game, how they can look to improve that record the answer was simple. "Having a better squad. that’s what it’s always been about," he said before reflecting on how his team went for the three points.
The squad will be improved in the summer and the speculation is already starting to mount following Football Insider's links with Aberdeen's defender/midfielder Ross McCrorie. Although the likelihood will be that City could look to alter a new spine of the team depending on the futures of Tomas Kalas and Alex Scott.
Mark Sykes to return
It's felt like a long time since City had Mark Sykes at their disposal but they can head to Sheffield United with their utility man available following the end of his four-game suspension. That raises the debate as to whether he comes straight back into the side, presumably on the right side of the attack.
Harry Cornick deservedly kept his place following his first City goal against Boro, turning in his finest performance since his deadline day signing from Luton last week but despite some positive passages of play, he struggled to replicate that consistently against Watford. He had a good header saved from a Jay Dasilva cross in the first half but rarely threatened Bachmann in the minutes that followed.
The same could be argued for Andi Weimann who filled in on the right side for the final 20 minutes of the game but despite his usual endeavor and commitment, couldn't offer a threat in front of goal. Nahki Wells always seemed the most likely to add to his 11-goal tally and was arguably the brightest performer alongside the ever-dependable Matty James.
Sykes, 25, will be eager to make his mark in the final run of games - one because he will have grown increasingly frustrated on the sidelines during his suspension but two because that right-sided attacking role is still very much up for grabs.
Competition is strong among the frontline but Sam Bell has found his position out on the left, Tommy Conway typically through the middle, and Anis Mehmeti also on the left touchline or playing behind the No10.
Before his suspension, Sykes had started seven successive league matches, having earned his spot on the wing and therefore it will be intriguing to determine whether he's handed the nod once again.
Mathematically safe
It may have looked a little ominous at one stage, (the Boxing Day defeat to West Brom, in particular) but the threat of dropping into the bottom three was never a major consideration to the season despite flirting with the lower echelons of the Championship table.
With Queens Park Rangers' continued free-fall ongoing with a 3-0 home defeat against Coventry, Cardiff's defeat against Sheffield United and Reading drawing at home to Burnley, City are mathematically safe. In short, Reading will need to win each of their last four matches as would Huddersfield, although the two sides still have to play each other.
Wigan's defeat at fellow relegation candidates Blackpool has probably succumbed to their fate unless they can pull off a Houdini act while the Tangerines are also four points adrift with four matches left to play.
It's not an achievement to be screaming from the rooftops, but it is significant in some respects. City are five points better off now in comparison to this time last season which indicates a rate of progress on the pitch, alongside the significant progress off it in regards to changing the mentality.
"We’re in a better position whether people want to judge it on just points alone is up to them," Pearson would comment after the game. "When you’re trying to construct a squad, one of the most important things is that you get the technical aspect of it right and we still need to address that and we’ve still got areas of the side that we need to be stronger of course. But in terms of what they ring as a group, we’re getting there.”
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