Watford boss Slavisa Jokanovic took responsibility for the Hornets’ 1-0 defeat against Ipswich Town this afternoon and admitted he made a mistake by deciding to chase victory rather than settling for a draw.

The Golden Boys struggled to break down the visitors’ defence throughout the game but had come close to scoring when Odion Ighalo flicked over a Troy Deeney cross from close range.

Jokanovic decided to introduce Matej Vydra in the second period in an attempt to win the game but the Hornets still couldn’t test Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Białkowski.

It seemed as if the points would be shared but the Tractor Boys grabbed victory in the dying seconds of the game.

A Watford free-kick into the Ipswich box was thumped away and Hornets midfielder Ben Watson attempted to control the ball rather than clear the danger.

He lost possession to Freddie Sears who passed to Richard Chaplow and the midfielder remained calm to slot past Heurelho Gomes and clinch victory for Mick McCarthy’s side.

Speaking after the game, Jokanovic said he should take the majority of the blame for the defeat.

The Golden Boys head coach explained: “I must be disappointed, especially when you lose like we did. The normal emotion is to be disappointed.

“In the past we have won many games in the last minute but today we lost in the last minute. I accept that is my responsibility because I didn’t want to close the game.

“We were trying to win the match. I made a mistake and my team made a mistake in the last moment and that that is why my team lost a point today.

“When my team lose a point like this I accept it is my responsibility.”

He continued: “We tried throughout the game to win. In the wrong moment we didn’t decide to close the game, we decided to attack a free-kick with so many players.

“Because of that, we lost a point which I felt we deserved. That is my opinion.”

Watford, who were without the injured Almen Abdi and Fernando Forestieri, didn’t have a single shot on target during the contest.

Jokanovic was asked if he felt the Hornets lacked a creative spark with the duo available.

He replied: “My team tried to find a way [to win]. We played a very physically strong, organised team. We made some chances but didn’t make as many chances as in other games.

“I am disappointed with our last moment of the game but we tried to make combinations and when we did that we had chances. But today we didn’t make enough chances to win the game.”

He added: “If we expect we will always score three or four goals this is wrong.

“Today my team played a little bit closer to Ipswich’s game. In the end, after our mistakes and especially mine, they win the game.”