Patrick Bamford’s second-half brace did the damage in what had previously been an even game, though Ed Still’s side were never incisive enough to really claim they deserved much more – and faded terribly in the latter stages.

Edo Kayembe missed a golden chance at the end of a first half in which Watford appealed for a penalty on three separate occasions, before Bamford deflected in Gustavo Hamer’s trickling effort for a bizarre opener after the break.

Bamford then touched home Femi Seriki’s cross for a second goal just short of the hour mark, a blow that knocked any remaining stuffing out of Watford.

Still spent much of the closing stages watching on quietly – and one wonders what owner Gino Pozzo, in attendance for the game, was thinking as he watched his head coach and team muster no enthusiasm for the final 20 minutes, an attitude understandably mirrored by the home crowd.

The result leaves Watford 13th in the Championship table with three more matches still to play in a season that has nowhere else to go.

Still gathered his entire squad in the centre circle after the game, before leading them towards an angry section of the Rookery End.

Imran Louza on the ball (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)

Watford had the first opportunity of the match, Othmane Maamma pinching the ball and running towards goal, but nothing was awarded as he went down under a small amount of pressure in the box.

A series of giveaways and half-hearted periods of play followed, though, as Sheffield United grew in dominance, Andre Brooks first forcing Egil Selvik into a save.

The goalkeeper was also called into action as he tipped Patrick Bamford’s effort wide after Mattie Pollock surrendered possession, before Mark McGuinness’ header was also touched over.

Watford’s brief displays of urgency came through Maamma, whose cross led to a wayward Papy Mendy shot before Nestory Irankunda wanted a penalty for handball after Japhet Tanganga blocked his shot at close range.

The Hornets appealed for a spot-kick of the third time when Maamma appeared to have his shirt tugged – and when Irankunda was adjudged to have committed a foul in the middle of the pitch, Still was booked for his complaints.

Still joined in with the ironic cheers when Watford did then win a free-kick, but his team’s performance continued to be affected by unforced errors and Brooks saw an effort blocked after slaloming into the middle of the pitch.

Watford did grow into it, though, with Maamma continuing to see plenty of the ball.

Abankwah and Kayembe had efforts from distance, and the latter missed a huge chance on the stroke of half-time when he half-volleyed Irankunda’s knockdown over the top from eight yards.

The Hornets ended the half well on top but without a goal.

Nestory Irankunda reacts to Edo Kayembe’s missed chance (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)

They picked up where they left off at the beginning of the second half, Mamadou Doumbia forcing a save with a shot from inside the box after Kayembe’s pull-back.

But hopes of a breakthrough at the right end were dashed when Sheffield United took the lead in bizarre fashion.

Gustavo Hamer’s shot seemed to be trickling towards Selvik, until Bamford stuck a foot out to send it rolling into the corner.

Irankunda’s free-kick was collected by Adam Davies before Still chucked on Amin Nabizada and Giorgi Chakvetadze in a double switch.

Othmane Maamma is pulled back in the box (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)

Almost immediately, though, they fell two goals behind.

Bamford was the man again, flicking in at the near post from Femi Seriki’s cross to pull further clear.

There was very little to shout about from there.

Irankunda continued to try, sending a couple of free-kicks close, but the whole of Vicarage Road fell extremely flat as their team couldn’t muster any kind of response in the closing stages.

The boos on full-time might have been louder had half the home crowd not already departed on a rather soul-destroying afternoon.

Watford XI: Selvik; Petris, Pollock, Goglichidze, Abankwah (Bola 72); P. Mendy (Bove 82), Louza; Irankunda, Kayembe (Chakvetadze 58), Maamma (Nabizada 58); Doumbia (Kjerrumgaard 72)

Unused subs: Baxter, Ngakia, Ince, Baah

Attendance: 18,495 (1,679 away)