Add to that a record of just one win in their last 13 matches, a team bereft of belief, ideas, energy and quality and a manager who seems to have no idea how to arrest the slide, it was obvious why the final whistle at the end of this lack-lustre spectacle was greeted with a loud and sustained chorus of boos from the home faithful.
On this evidence there is no way Watford , even if they do sneak into the end-of-season lottery, will reach Wembley, let alone bounce back to the top-flight at the first attempt. Not that should detract from Scunthorpe's display.
Already relegated, The Iron could have been forgiven for turning up and going through the motions but, after a particularly dull first half, Nigel Adkins' men sensed their opportunity after the restart.
Jonathan Forte, twice, and Matthew Sparrow had chances before Forte supplied the 68th-minute cross which allowed Paul Hayes to get in at the near post and head in the winner.
The best Watford could muster was a mazy 40-yard run by replacement Lionel Ainsworth that took him past five opponents and ended with a shot that was deflected wide.
That apart, the Hornets huffed and puffed without much conviction and a third consecutive home game without a goal always looked on the cards. And so events proved.