Vicarage Road appears to be entering the Twilight Zone. The wind whistles around the empty and unsafe East Stand and the southwest corner’s rebuilding has been delayed. At their home match against Reading, a goal was awarded when none had been scored. And against Preston North End on Saturday there were signs of a conspiracy among the ball boys.

If the result against Reading did not feel like a proper draw for Adrian Boothroyd’s team, this victory is in danger of not feeling right either. The point of controversy is the multiball system clubs in the Football League can opt to use as a means of keeping the ball in play. The Preston coaching staff were angered by the way balls were quickly released when Watford were a goal behind but slow to be found when the home team had taken the lead.

“The multiball system is there to improve the tempo of the game,” Boothroyd said. “And it can be used in a positive way and sometimes it can be a problem. I would hate that anyone would come here and think it was going to be abused.

“I heard a lot of commotion behind me [between the fourth official and the Preston bench]. If it hasn’t been done correctly, then it doesn’t feel like a proper win to me. It might be a case of just banning it. I don’t think that would be a bad idea.”

Alan Irvine, the Preston manager, did not use the ball retrieval rate as an excuse for his team’s loss. Four successive defeats point to a problem beyond that. “We’ve got to get back to being a difficult team to score against,” he said.

After taking an early lead through Sean St Ledger, the visiting team failed to frustrate Watford. Jon Harley netted the equaliser and then Tommy Smith scored his 50th goal for the club. It meant Preston had to start again, but the long wait for a ball helped ruin their plans.

Boothroyd said Watford remain a good investment after Sir Elton John, the former chairman, criticised the club’s finances, but in the short term some much-needed cash looks most likely to be provided by the pop star.

Watford (4-4-2): R Lee – A Mariappa, D Ward, J DeMerit (sub: L Bromby, 89min), M Sadler – T Smith, J-J O’Toole, L Williamson, J Harley – W Hoskins (sub: A Bangura, 87), T Priskin (sub: L Henderson, 78). Substitutes not used: M Tyler, L Ainsworth.

Preston North End (4-4-2): A Lonergan – B Jones, Y Mawene, S St Ledger, J McEveley – C Sedgwick, B Nicholson (sub: J Parkin, 85), P McKenna (sub: J Jarrett, 73), R Wallace – N Mellor, C Brown. Substitutes not used: C Neal, D Carter, S Elliott. Booked: St Ledger, Brown.

Referee: K Wright. Attendance: 14,087.