If any Watford players were wondering about the high standards Nigel Pearson demands, his actions in the dressing room at half-time during his first game in charge let them know.

Watford were losing 1-0 at Premier League leaders Liverpool but Pearson came in and, in the words of their goalkeeper Ben Foster, “stuck a rocket up somebody like you wouldn’t believe”.

It was a clear indication of the standards Pearson demands after being appointed Watford’s third manager this season and a marked change from the days of his predecessors Javi Gracia and Quique Sanchez Flores, when such dressing-downs were a rarity.

Watford wanted to hire a British coach after the departure of Flores in ­November, partly because they felt a new foreign manager would struggle to navigate the busy festive schedule but also due to wanting to change the ­culture around the training ground.

Pearson impressed owner Gino Pozzo and chairman Scott Duxbury during his ­interview with the clarity of his message and it was felt the players would respond to that. The high turnover of coaches had led to a degree of ­confusion over the team’s tactics and an almost back-to-basics approach was required.

That approach can be seen on the training ground at Watford’s London Colney base, where sessions are straightforward but at a high intensity. The squad usually have a warm-down on a Sunday, followed by a day off on ­Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday sessions are notoriously tough, however, and extra running is often on the menu.

Thursdays have been set aside for tactical video analysis, with a large ­proportion of time dedicated to shape work. Too often this season under ­Gracia and Flores, Watford lacked ­structure in formation and Pearson has swiftly corrected that.

One of Pearson’s aims was to create a strong team ethic and shape and in just a matter of weeks he has achieved that to the point where Watford could get out of the relegations places with a win at Bournemouth on Sunday.

Such a scenario seemed a world away before Pearson’s arrival, with some believing relegation was inevitable after collecting eight points from 15 games.

Now, however, the atmosphere at the training ground has been transformed and Pearson has had a key role in that.

He is said to almost float around the place, checking in on everyone and everything to ensure things run properly. In the past, Watford have had a head coach, but Pearson is very much a ­manager who is involved in everything from travel arrangements to players’ diets.

Pearson's Watford in numbers

10 points from five games for Watford under Nigel Pearson, only Liverpool and Man City have more since he came in. 8 of their 17 League goals have come since December 22. 6 points from safety when he took over, Watford could rise above the relegation places this weekend.

He has taken time to get to know everyone at the club and even at lunchtime Pearson has made an impression by sitting with different players each day. It sounds a small thing but in the past coaches would often sit with their own staff.

Even someone like Marvin Zeegelaar, who has not played all season, has been reintegrated to training and given a chance.

There was a fear before Pearson came in that cliques could be forming, but now there is a new-found harmony at the club.

It has not been achieved by massive upheaval, though, more simple and subtle tweaks that have instead had a big impact.

Players have been treated like adults and handed power when it comes to their match-day preparation. It means things such as bread, cheese and sauces are now on the menu when the squad eat at the hotel a night before a game because players are trusted to know how they need to prepare.

For away games, too, players are allowed to stay in the city the night after the match if, for example, they have family there and want to visit them, while Troy Deeney was given days off following the birth of his child.

It all ties into the fact Pearson is very much a people person, despite what some on the outside may think of him.

His approach has not gone unnoticed in the squad and nor have the changes to training. The decision to keep Hayden Mullins and Graham Stack as part of his backroom team has gone down exceptionally well, while some players rate assistant Craig Shakespeare as one of the best coaches they have worked with.

Under their guidance, Watford are finally starting to mount a bid for ­survival that before Christmas looked out of the question.

Pearson, of course, is keen to stress that nothing has been achieved yet and there is still a lot more hard work ahead.

The foundations, however, have been laid and you get the feeling something special is building at Watford.