CONSISTENTLY inconsistent is the only charge that can be thrown at the door of Watford since the Hertfordshire side dropped out of the Premier League in 2021-22.

Championship finishes of 11th, 15th and 14th convey that fact with a similar ending likely come early May.

Chris Wilder's brief stint at Vicarage Road in the final third of 2022-23 was similarly middle of the road.

In his 11 matches at the helm, the Hornets won three, drew three and lost five games, with his short-lived tenure best remembered by Watford followers for his tirade against the club's players after a pitiful performance in an M1 derby at Luton Town.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Chris Wilder, Manager of Sheffield United, looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Sheffield United at St Andrew’s at Knighthead Park on March 14, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

placeholder image — BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Chris Wilder, Manager of Sheffield United, looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Sheffield United at St Andrew’s at Knighthead Park on March 14, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

That was an occasion when Watford showed their bad side.

For all their inconsistencies, they still remain an enigmatic side who can trade punches with the best in the second tier on their day.

A bit like Wilder's current Sheffield United side, who also have little to play for in terms of the league table like their hosts.

On his spell at the ‘Vic’, Wilder, pictured, said: “It was a great experience for me. A different way of working, with a lot of extremely talented players in their side and squad.

Sheffield United's Andre Brooks. Picture: Simon Bellis / Sportimage

“Inconsistency, maybe not just this season, but since they have been out of the Premier League. I think their average league position is 12th or 13th.

“It's a different model to how other teams work. But they are always a team who, on their day, can hurt you.

“They have got top individuals at the top of the pitch and they will be looking to put it all together in front of their own fans and have a big finish after dropping off over the past month.

“They will be looking to have that big finish just as much as we are."

A seriously depleted United side dug deep on Wilder's last visit to Watford in January 2025 to triumph 2-1, thanks to goals from Gus Hamer and Andre Brooks.

The Blades chief professed to feeling 'emotional' after seeing his side show considerable fortitude and character in trying circumstances to find a way to win.

It was a moment in the best traditions of the Blades under him and something he is striving to see more regularly and recreate in his third spell.

The side which faces Watford next season is likely to be drastically different to the one that lines up today, but a collective rolling up of sleeves to secure another few wins this season might just help the cause of some whose futures remain up in the air.

Wilder, whose side turned over Hull City late on last weekend, added: “That's what I want my team to look like – personality, character. We were down to the bare bones (in the last game at Watford) and the young boys were brilliant.

“And everyone left everything on the pitch and I was pretty emotional coning off, considering the amount of effort that the team put in.

“That's what we all want it to look like and we have to change the narrative on that. It does come with changes to culture, attitude to setting it back to where it should be.”