It has been a turbulent week on and off the pitch for Watford, and it felt like now or never for Dionisi to steady the ship after successive four-goal defeats.

In a much-improved performance, Watford exhibited a solidity that had been absent for too long.

Second-half goals from Luca Kjerrumgaard and Jordan Zemura confirmed all three points for the Hornets, and Dionisi revealed his delight to end a four-game losing streak.

“I’m very happy,” he beamed, “Because it wasn’t easy today, or this week, for everyone, my staff, the players, the club, because we lost the two matches in five days after the international break.

“This is football. We believe in this team, this club, because we stay together, we work together. I speak for my staff, my players, my owner, my director, for everyone - and we believe in the same way.

“But football is difficult when the negative results arrive, but today is a good day for everyone. For our supporters, for my players, yes.

“And the result arrived thanks to a good match because, today, the result is right.”

The clean sheet which accompanied the Hornets’ 2-0 triumph was a mark of a significant shift in mentality from the thrashings of the past week, and Dionisi was quick to point this out.

“The mentality today didn’t change during this match,” he reflected. “In the match against Burnley, after conceding the first goal, the mentality changed,” he conceded. “We spoke about this, we try every day to improve, and today the team.”

Now, Watford enjoy a week-long break before next Saturday’s trip to Molineux, though they will be hard at work to make Saturday’s win the start of a pattern.

But, before that hard work begins, Dionisi says there will be time for him to celebrate an excellent result with his family tonight.

“Oh yes, I like red wine,” the Italian laughed. “Today, I drink. I will drink one glass with my family.”