The Hornets had been hoping to show signs of improvement after a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Burnley last weekend, but things only got worse.
Alessio Dionisi called Saturday’s three-goal deficit within 25 minutes an “impossible” situation, so when the Hornets trailed by four at halftime in south Wales, it is understandable that most of the away end had cleared out for an early drink and pie.
Cardiff’s opener came in the 11th minute, when Jack Moylan converted a penalty which had been given away moments earlier by the Hornets’ skipper, Mattie Pollock.
It came minutes after Boadu had made space, though under pressure, one-on-one with Nathan Trott. His effort was straight at the shot-stopper though, and we will never know what might have been had Watford taken an early lead.
What we do know, is that once the hosts surged ahead, they never looked back.
For the most part, it was one-way traffic, and the few chances Watford did have, like an effort from Maamma faced with an almost open goal, admittedly from a tight angle, were squandered.
Cardiff continued to dominate and, while Watford were profligate, the Bluebirds were clinical, which saw them out of sight by the break.
Moylan doubled their lead in the 35th minute with an effort that appeared offside on second inspection, but there was no reprieve from the assistant on the far side.
Pollock was once again involved for the wrong reasons minutes before halftime, as he added a third for Cardiff with an unfortunate headed own goal.
But things got worse before the clemency of the halftime whistle, as Ollie Tanner drove a powerful effort across the face of goal which had the beating of Ravaglia.
If a three-goal deficit was impossible on Saturday, four at halftime was… more than impossible.
Moments after Oasis’ ‘Roll With it’ was played at halftime, the Watford squad reemerged for the second half, and perhaps surprisingly, there were no changes. Dionisi elected to roll with what he had in hope of seeing a positive response.
There was no response.
Chris Willock won a penalty for Cardiff just after the hour-mark, but Ravaglia was equal to his attempt, getting down quickly to his right to keep it at a four-goal deficit.
But so bleak was Watford’s situation already, there were few, if any, cheers. At least not that reached the press box.
Instead, supporters continued to chant in full voice about their displeasure with under-fire owner Gino Pozzo, something that was a common theme throughout the game.
Substitute added a fifth for Cardiff in the 85th minute, two minutes before Hector Kyprianou pulled one back for Watford.
Had Watford completed a comeback, it would have been the single greatest sporting comeback of all time. But it finished 5-1; no need to rewrite any record books.
The result has piled more pressure onto Alessio Dionisi, who is fighting to save his job, while fans’ outrage at Pozzo continues to build hour by hour.
Eight points in 10 games is the Hornets’ worst start to a second-tier season since the 03/04 campaign.
The result also confirms another damning fact: Watford have failed to keep a clean sheet in their first 10 games of a second-tier season for only the second time in history. The first time was last season.
Change is needed, but right now, there is no indication where, if at all, that will come from, or if it will be the right change.
Watford drop into the relegation zone with the defeat, and could fall as low as 23rd by Wednesday evening, if Derby beat Queens Park Rangers.