Every picture tells a story and every lens at Vicarage Road was pointing at the stands after the final whistle on Saturday. Watford had just been relegated and the Sunday papers would need shots of supporters in tears. Blame it on the power of Adrian Boothroyd’s positive thinking or the air of resignation hanging around the club since Christmas, but the photographers did not get their shots.

A few fans looked upset but feeling sorry for yourself has not been the Watford way since Boothroyd replaced Ray Lewington as manager two years ago. “Nobody died,” Boothroyd said. “We just weren’t good enough.”

Written off by pundits and derided by neutrals for their reliance on the long-ball game, Watford have nevertheless been a breath of fresh air in the boom-and-bust world of the Barclays Premiership. When Boothroyd arrived at Vicarage Road, the club were heading for League One, a little more than 12 months later they were rubbing shoulders with the big boys while their manager kept faith with the same nucleus of players. Who said romance was dead?

“Watford have been very good to me,” Boothroyd said. “They gave a young punk a chance and I want to make sure that we come back up. Were we prepared for the Premiership? I don’t think so. I don’t think you can be. But for next time I am.”

Needing to win on Saturday to have any chance of beating the drop, Boothroyd’s team lined up without wingers. Scoring goals has been Watford’s problem this season and their fate was sealed when Darius Vassell took advantage of a poor kick by Ben Foster to put Manchester City ahead in the 53rd minute. Tamas Priskin equalised with a low strike, and Marlon King headed a late chance wide.

“We knew it was going to be difficult and we’re disappointed that we didn’t give it a real go,” Foster, the England goalkeeper, said after conceding that his mistake had cost his team three points.