Neil Warnock has branded some of the goals conceded by Cardiff City as “pathetic” following their 5-1 hammering at home to Watford.

But the Bluebirds manager has also challenged his players to recover quickly as they bid to stay in the Premier League.

Warnock says referee Simon Hooper admitted Cardiff should have had a first-half penalty in their heavy defeat on Friday night.

Cardiff remain just a point off the Premier League relegation zone after they were thrashed by a ruthless Watford side at the Cardiff City Stadium, where Gerard Deulofeu scored a hat-trick and Troy Deeney grabbed two.

In the 42nd minute, Josh Murphy was taken down inside the area by Daryl Janmaat when Watford were 1-0 up, and Warnock says referee Hooper owned up to making “a mistake” over the spot-kick incident.

“He said he’s seen it back on video and he’s made a mistake,” Warnock said. “What do you say to that? It doesn’t help me when you get battered five.

“VAR would have solved that in 30 seconds, everybody on the pitch knew it was a penalty.

“Troy (Deeney) said it was a nailed-on penalty, so too (Adrian) Mariappa and all their staff on the touchline. I like Simon as a referee and he’s not done it on purpose, he’s upset himself about the situation.”

Cardiff could finish the weekend in the drop zone if Southampton record at least a point away to Arsenal on Sunday.

Warnock insists his side must show resilience heading into the final months of the season.

He told Sky Sports: “The goals were giveaways and pathetic really. We will keep fighting.

“We are going to have games like these where we play against good teams. They are a good side but it doesn’t half help when you get decisions going for you like that.

“We have to be stronger mentally. We can’t let decisions like that affect our game and collapse like that. We have to grit our teeth and come back with another answer.”

A superb hat-trick from Watford’s Spanish striker Deulofeu and two goals from Troy Deeney gave Watford a thumping victory.

Deulofeu had not scored for eight matches but he scored before the break and then showed class and composure to strike twice inside four minutes on the hour mark.

Deeney made it 4-0 – set up by Deulofeu – before Sol Bamba pulled a goal back from a corner.

But Deeney made the victory emphatic again with a fifith goal in stoppage time as Watford proved they might yet be good enough for Europpean football at the end of the season.

Cardiff had won back-to-back Premier League matches in their last two games, but that did not stop manager Neil Warnock recalling his club captain Sean Morrison to the starting line-up.

The centre-back had been sidelined for four matches following appendix surgery, but he was restored to the home defence in place of Lee Peltier.

Warnock made two further changes – giving Leandro Bacuna his first start since his move from Reading, while Josh Murphy was recalled in place of Bobby Reid.

Watford – who announced before kick-off they had reached an agreement for £4m compensation with Everton for their former manager Marco Silva – made seven changes from their FA Cup victory over QPR.

The rhythm that has carried the visitors into the top 10 was evident early on, however, and they gave warning to their attacking threat when Daryl Janmaat shot over after swapping passes with Troy Deeney.

Cardiff did not lack confidence themselves, though, and when Callum Paterson chipped the ball into the path of Oumar Niasse the former Everton striker forced Ben Foster into a sharp reflex save.

But just as Neil Warnock’s side looked capable of taking the lead, they conceded an 18th minute goal that like many this season had much to do of their own making.

Morrison, Bruno Manga and Joe Bennett all offered ineffectual tackles to Deeney on the edge of the box and when the ball broke to Gerard Deulofeu and the Spaniard struck a low shot past Neil Ethereidge to put Watford ahead.

It might have been extended moments later if Etheridge had not got down sharply to push a rasping shot from Deeney away for a corner.

Cardiff’s own attacking threat was infrequent although they did end the half with a surge and what appeared to be a legitimate claim for a penalty.

Murphy was released into the left-hand side of the penalty area by Niasse, only for the wing to be upended by Janmaat as the Watford player tried to recover his position.

Referee Simon Hooper, however, waved away claims for a spot-kick, much to the anger of Warnock who made a theatrical appeal to the fourth official.

It was a warning to Watford, but the visitors survived until half-time without too much further alarm.

Cardiff pushed Bacuna further forwad at the start of the second-half and were more direct in trying to find Niasse and for a time it looked as though it might provide a route back into the game.

But Watford were able to reduce the home side to long shots from distance and when they roused themselves to hit Cardiff on the counter, they made the game safe with two goals inside four minutes on the hour mark.

Deulofeu struck for his second after he latched onto a clearance from deep in the Watford half, following a poor free-kick from Bennett.

The Spaniard outpaced Manga over the halfway line and then sprinted forward before firing past an exposed Etheridge.

Three minutes later and Cardiff were undone again Deulofeu, although this time the finish was even more exquisite.

Arter gave the ball away, Etienne Capoue sent Deulofeu through the middle and Etheridge was left grasping at air as the balk was delicately chipped over him and into the far corner.

Deulofeu could even have had a fourth as he again got behind Cardiff’s defence in the 73rdminute. This time, though, he unselfishly pulled the ball back for Deeney to hammer home Watford’s fourth.

Cardiff did pull back a consolation goal late on when Sol Bamba bundled the ball in from a corner, but Deeney had the final word when he was set up for his second goal by Will Hughes.