Collecting red cards has become an unwanted habit for Watford since Beppe Sannino was appointed head coach.

In the Italian’s 28 games in charge, the Golden Boys have had a player dismissed on six occasions - with two coming in the last week.

Watford have also received 99 yellow cards this season. One more and they would become the first team to break the 100 mark since Queens Park Rangers who totalled 102 during the 2006/2007 campaign.

Sannino was asked about Watford’s disciplinary record after the 3-1 defeat at Charlton Athletic on Tuesday.

Albert Riera was sent off in that game after receiving two cautions and Sannino said: "We have to reflect on why. It was an incident from before and Riera had a warning. I was expecting different behaviour from him."

When pressed further, the Hornets head coach added: "The reflection is when you have a lot of bookings, you are not so good when facing your opponents one-versus-one.

"The basic in football is the one-versus-one; how many times you win the tackle and how many times you cut players off when one-versus-one."

All of the Hornets’ red cards this season have come since Sannino took charge. Ultimately only two dismissals have potentially changed the final result.

Gabriele Angella’s red card against Bournemouth resulted in a penalty, which was scored, and the match was drawn - although the dismissal was later rescinded and transferred to Fitz Hall.

And Mathias Ranegie was sent off early into the contest against Doncaster Rovers and that proved costly as the Hornets were beaten 2-1.

But Watford are not the worst in English football’s second flight when it comes to players being dismissed.

Blackpool are the Championship’s leading offenders having racked up ten dismissals this season. Middlesbrough have nine while Millwall, Barnsley and Reading join the Hornets on six.

Watford were shown six red cards last year - the highest in the league - and their players were booked 80 times.

During Sean Dyche’s campaign in charge, Watford had just three players sent off and it is a trend that has continued this season at Burnley.

The Clarets have one of the best disciplinary records in the league with only two red cards and 48 yellows - which is the lowest caution rate in the division.

And Leicester City, who also secured automatic promotion, have received the second lowest number of yellow cards.