Gracia was asked about the issue after the game but had not seen the footage, although speaking on Thursday morning the Spaniard was not impressed with Success' actions.

"I think I have my opinion about Isaac's behaviour and I don't like to see that. I don't like to see that from my player with a boy," he said.

"I think we have to look after the boys always and it is not a good reaction is what I can say.

"I am not here to educate the ball boys on what have to do or what they don't have to do. It is not my job. What I can say is we need to improve our behaviour next time."

Next up for Watford is a trip to face Brighton, with Abdoulaye Doucoure's involvement still up in the air due to a knee injury.

The former France Under-21 international midfielder has been linked with a move to Paris St Germain for much of the January transfer window.

Chelsea emerged as a side showing a reported late interest in signing Doucoure but – as he has done for much of the month – Gracia treated the latest speculation with short shrift.

"It is new because it is another club, but it is the same news as the last days and weeks," Gracia added.

"I don't know anything new about that. In this moment I am concerned about Doucoure's evolution because I want him to recover as soon as possible, because he is an important player for us.

"I think he will be ready soon, but in this moment I don't know when he will be available."

Meanwhile, Darren Sarll, the club's head of academy, has been suspended following allegations of bullying.

Press Association Sport understands the Premier League club took swift action after Watford's safeguarding officers were alerted to the claims earlier in the week.

An internal club investigation was immediately launched.

Sarll, 35, left his job as manager at Stevenage in March 2018.

During the summer, Sarll joined Watford with the title: Head of Academy – Professional Development Phase.

Sarll had also held previous youth team management roles at Brentford and Rotherham, where he worked with Andy Scott, who is now Watford's sporting director.

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