\n The centre-back wanted to front up to apologise to supporters, while acknowledging that saying sorry is unlikely to temper the frustrations among a fanbase he knows has become used to the Hornets losing games in this fashion at the end of seasons.\n<\/p>\n
\n Pollock said the end-of-season cycle “kills me” and that he is “ashamed” that supporters have become accustomed to the type of display the Hornets put in at the Kassam Stadium.\n<\/p>\n
\n The 24-year-old was clear that it is the players – not coach Ed Still or anybody else at the club – who must take responsibility, with his anger and frustration evident as he spoke.\n<\/p>\n
\n He said: “Firstly, I want to apologise to all the fans.\n<\/p>\n
\n “I know that’s easily said but people are spending their hard-earned money and coming to support us.\n<\/p>\n
\n “I can’t stress how much it hurts. I’ve been here five years now and this is probably the lowest point of my Watford career, seeing the fans like that.\n<\/p>\n
\n “I know an apology will only go so far and it’s down to us on the pitch, but a game like that can’t go unspoken about.\n<\/p>\n
\n “As a senior player, who’s trying to be a leader, you have to take accountability. That’s not good enough.\n<\/p>\n
\n “We’re sorry. The fans don’t deserve that. For us to put that on show is not acceptable. For us to get bullied like that is not acceptable. We have to fix it.\n<\/p>\n
\n “I’ll do everything in my power to help the lads be ready for the next game. There’s no messing about, no waiting, it has to be right for the next game.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Mattie Pollock (Image: Alan Cozzi\/Watford FC)\n<\/p>\n
\n It should be stressed, Pollock was speaking from the heart and with real emotion post-match, evidently infuriated by yet another defeat in the final stretch of a campaign.\n<\/p>\n
\n He described the “running theme” of seasons petering out in this way as “unacceptable”.\n<\/p>\n
\n He said: “I have the same feeling as every fan, I hate the season fizzling out.\n<\/p>\n
\n “It’s not acceptable. I feel ashamed that this happens towards the end of the season and the saddest part is that fans come to games expecting us to lose.\n<\/p>\n
\n “It’s become too easy for us to be beaten by teams who just bully us. Football-wise we can go toe-to-toe with teams but if a team sticks it on us, we have to be able to roll our sleeves up and fight for the club.\n<\/p>\n
\n “We’re falling short when it comes to what it means to play for Watford. I’m a northern lad, I’m brought up that you never roll over – you fight, you win the battle first.\n<\/p>\n
\n “You’re only good players once you’ve won the battle.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Nobody cares who can play well, it’s about who can win the fight. We have so much ability but we’re falling short.\n<\/p>\n
\n “For fans to come here expecting us to lose is a disgrace.\n<\/p>\n
\n “We were in the Premier League when I signed and I don’t want to play in the Championship for the rest of my life, half these players don’t want to either.\n<\/p>\n
\n “We signed to come and play for one of the biggest teams in the league and we’re falling short. It’s so frustrating.”\n<\/p>\n