Boothroyd admitted Watford are gripped by a 'fear of the finishing line' after defeat to Scunthorpe.
Hornets chief rues surprise defeat
Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd admitted his players are gripped by a 'fear of the finishing line' after their 1-0 defeat at home to relegated Scunthorpe.
Watford had looked well-placed for automatic promotion earlier this season, but having won just one of their last 13 games they now need a result in their final game at Blackpool next week to make sure they claim a play-off place.
Boothroyd believes it is a psychological issue that has cost his team of late and he has vowed to make changes to ensure they improve.
"We can debate all we like about what we do and how we do it, but the bottom line is that we have a team that fear the finishing line.
"We'll have to wait and see how we deal with it. Like every inquest, there is a verdict, and we will see what that is at Blackpool.
"As a manager when you see players perform valiantly and in a manner which suggests that they will romp the league earlier in the season and now they are afraid then you have to change it.
"Wherever there is fear you can turn and run or stay and fight. We have to fight because if we don't then we won't get promoted. It's as simple as that."
Promotion
Scunthorpe manager Nigel Adkins was delighted with his side after a second successive victory and believes it bodes well for next season.
"After the defeat to Crystal Palace which sent us down, we sat down and set ourselves some new goals.
"We had a well deserved victory over Cardiff last week and another one today and that is two wins in our pre-season for League One.
"At the start of the season nobody thought we'd take a point off anyone in this league but we've got 45 points now and that would have kept us up last season.
"It's a great achievement for Scunthorpe United.
"Once we got relegated it would have been easy to throw the towel in and become disillusioned but we've competed very well and can hold our heads up high."
He added: "The objective is to come straight back up now.
"We have been on a journey of discovery this year and hopefully we can utilise the experience to go about trying to get back in the Championship.
"All the players are under contract bar one for next year and we are trying to mould a team of young, hungry players.
"We'll keep persevering with them and they will flourish."
