Thursday 25 February 2016 17:41, UK
Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores says his side's recent record against Bournemouth will count for nothing when the teams meet this weekend.
The Hornets host Eddie Howe's side on Saturday having not lost to the south coast club since a 1-0 defeat in 1997.
Flores admits he has been impressed by Bournemouth's showing in the Premier League this year and fully expects a tough match at Vicarage Road.
"It will be a difficult game," he said. "We know how Bournemouth have been working since last year. They play like a team, they fight a lot during 90 minutes and their idea is very clear.
"They showed when they won the Championship that they are able to win in every single stadium, so we need to prepare well and to read the situation well."
And the Spaniard believes his side can build on the positive vibes around the club following their 1-0 FA Cup victory over Leeds United last weekend.
"We will play at Vicarage Road and with our fans and our spirit I think it will be a very good match," he added.
"For this week we will try and carry on with the same dynamic that we have had since the beginning of the season. The idea is to be competitive, to play well and to add points, it is very important. It is always important to win."
Watford sit on 36 points in the Premier League table with 12 games remaining and Flores believes reaching the 40-point mark - generally regarded as guaranteeing safety - will take the pressure off his players.
"I don't want there to be an obsession about 40 points or not," he added. "I think we are very close and I would like to get the objective as soon as possible.
"It will give the players the opportunity to take the pressure of us. In this way I think Leicester is the example. They achieved 40 points and since then they are free on the pitch and they feel really, really positive."
And Flores laughed off speculation over the future of leading scorer Odion Ighalo with a number of newspapers linking him with a big-money move this summer.
The Nigerian has been a sensation in the Premier League with 14 goals this season but when asked about the talk of a move his manager added: "The speculation is pretty normal as he is one of the best strikers of the season... pretty normal."
Ighalo could be busy in the summer anyway, with the chance to play for Nigeria at the Olympic Games, and that is something Sanchez Flores would not block.
He said: "It depends on the players also. Some players want to go to the Olympic games, other players prefer to rest. It depends, but finally if the decision of the player is that he wants to go, I am happy."
