Reaction: Barnsley v Watford

Gianfranco Zola says Watford left Oakwell with ‘big smiles’ on their faces after rattling in five goals from five different scorers against the Tykes.

The Hornets are the Championship’s top-scorers and showed their pedigree once more, going ahead as early as the seventh minute, Troy Deeney besating Luke Steele with aplomb.

Jason Scotland levelled with a low strike before Davide Faraoni tapped in at the far post and Fernando Forestieri at the near to send Watford into the break 3-1 up.

Sean Murray drove home from distance on his left to open his league account on his first start of the season before Ikechi Anya added a memorable fifth, taking the ball from the Watford half before firing past Steele to complete the rout.

Speaking to BBC Sport afterwards, head coach Zola said that his side as still not been ‘perfect’.

‘We know that we haven’t been perfect out there,’ stated Zola. ‘We know that there are some things that need to be done better but in general we go home with a big smile on our face.

‘The game went exactly where we wanted it to be,’ continued the Italian.

‘We know they were pushing, they were looking to get it back, to come back into the game and we knew that they were going to leave space behind. We just waited, they had their chances too, and then on the counter we took the opportunities and did very well.’

Barnsley boss David Flitcroft pulled no punches in his post-match assessment, admitting that his side had been well off the pace.

‘We’ve been below our standards and against a Watford team you can’t even get away with 10% off. But today some players were 30 or 40% off the standards they’ve set. They’ve let the group down; they’ve certainly let the fans down, definitely,’ lamented Flitcroft.

‘I want to design a football team that wins games. It’s something I’m obsessed with and, at the minute, we’re not doing that.

Flitcroft continued by threatening changes: ‘There’s surgery needed and we’re going to make that surgery and see where that takes us.’

Click here to read yesterday’s match report. Click here to view yesterday’s match facts and stats.

Watford host Premier League side Norwich City on Tuesday in the third round of the League Cup.