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Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd blasted his side's performance as "absolutely shocking" as the Championship leaders were beaten 2-1 by Burnley.
Second-half goals from Andy Gray and Joey Gudjonsson set Owen Coyle en route to his first win as Burnley boss before Dan Shittu's late consolation.
Watford have now picked up just four points from their last five games and could see their lead cut to just two points if West Brom win at Plymouth on Wednesday night and Boothroyd was furious with his side's tepid display.
He said: "It was an awful spectacle, it was absolutely shocking.
"I thought that when we lost at Barnsley on Saturday that although the result wasn't good there were some aspects of the game which I could be pleased with but not tonight.
"We were lacklustre and it was like looking at a team of clones.
"That was not the great group of players that I normally work with day in, day out.
"It was a sub-standard performance from minute one and I didn't see it get any better.
"It was so unlike this group of players and so unlike this team."
The Hornets have now failed to win in any of their last three games at Vicarage Road and host Bristol City on Saturday in what could be another stern test.
New Burnley boss Coyle insisted his side "merited all three points" and was delighted with their defensive strength.
Gray headed in Wade Elliott's fine cross to give the Clarets a deserved lead before Gudjonsson ran from inside his own half to round Mart Poom and fire high into the net.
Shittu's late strike from the edge of the area heralded an aerial assault on the Burnley goal but Coyle's back four stood firm to record all three points.
Coyle said: "I think there's a few more grey hairs there tonight.
"I have to say that we merited all three points.
"In the first half we passed the ball really well and should have been in front against a good side.
"They are not top of the Championship by accident and they put you under enormous pressure. We stood up to that and dealt with it.
"I asked them to be brave and to keep passing the ball and in the end I thought we scored two very good goals.
"When Watford scored they threw everything at us including the kitchen sink but we stayed strong as a team and saw it out."
Coyle has now taken four points in his first two games in charge and insisted that his side will continue to give everything in a bid to climb the table.
He said: "Sometimes players get a lift when a new manager arrives but there is enormous quality in this squad.
"All I've asked is that they go and give it every effort every game. Anybody can accept mistakes if you give it your all.
"We had a magnificent travelling support tonight and we had to show them that we are trying to do it right."
The rest of us to fight for 2nd and play off places.
Watford have been awful for all the games at home this season. When we sort out our home form of being expected to win and break down 5 man midfields etc then mayb we can do damage.
The rest of us to fight for 2nd and play off places.
Watford have been awful for all the games at home this season. When we sort out our home form of being expected to win and break down 5 man midfields etc then mayb we can do damage.
At the moment its really awful football.
IF we had your away form we'd be almost certainties and the same if you had our home form, unstoppable.
Boothroyd slams limp Hornets
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