Conte in danger of the chop as Watford thrash Chelsea

Antonio Conte is in hot water after his Chelsea side lost 4-1 away to Watford in the Premier League on Monday.

The champions were forced to play an hour with 10 men after summer signing Tiemoue Bakayoko was sent off for two bookable offences after 30 minutes.

12 minutes later The Blues went behind through a Troy Deeney penalty after Watford’s Gerard Deulofeu was brought down in the penalty area by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Watford dominated in front of their home supporters at Vicarage Road and were unlucky when Chelsea equalised eight minutes before the full-time whistle with a curling, 25 yard effort from Belgium Eden Hazard.

Defender Daryl Janmaat superbly restored The Hornets’ lead in the 84th minute, netting with his weaker left foot.

This was followed four minutes later by Deulofeu’s calm finish deflected home by Chelsea skipper Gary Cahill.

The away side’s misery was compounded further when Roberto Pereyra added a fourth in injury time, blasting the ball past Courtois after an excellent through-pass from Abdoulaye Doucoure to complete an eventful final ten minutes.

Chelsea have now lost their last two fixtures by a three-goal deficit following their 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth on Wednesday.

Before the game, under fire Chelsea boss, Conte, took the unusual decision of asking the club to release a statement backing him.

"I'd like to have a statement to support against this speculation," said the 48-year-old Italian.

"Maybe I'd like that the club prepare a statement to tell the media, 'I trust in his job, I trust in his work'."

Conte lead Chelsea to the Premier League title last campaign but this season his side sit in fourth place, 19 points off league leaders Manchester City. After Monday’s game Conte repeated his pre-match rhetoric.

"My position? It is the same. I stay here, try to work and put all myself in the work.

"The pressure? Which pressure? What is the pressure?

"I work - if this is enough it is, OK. Otherwise the club has to take another decision."