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Odion Ighalo makes scoring easy, Watford boss says after FA Cup winner

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Reaction from both managers after Watford beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the FA Cup

Quique Sanchez Flores praised Odion Ighalo's goalscoring instincts after the Watford striker's late winner at Nottingham Forest.

Flores turned to his top scorer with the fourth-round FA Cup tie drifting towards a goalless draw, and the substitute came up trumps with an 89th-minute strike after Kelvin Wilson failed to clear.

Ighalo now has 15 goals this season and his manager said: "With Ighalo it looks easier to score; when Ighalo is on the pitch it is like the opportunity to score is easier.

"But it was also difficult to score. Nottingham Forest defended deep for a long time during the match, it was difficult to find the space.

Odion Ighalo (centre, obscured) is congratulated after scoring Watford's late winner at Nottingham Forest
Image: Odion Ighalo (centre, obscured) is congratulated after scoring Watford's late winner at Nottingham Forest

"We tried, we crossed a lot, we played football, go inside the box a lot of times but finally Ighalo scored.

"In the last 20 minutes we thought that with Ighalo and Jose Manuel Jurado we can maybe get one step more because they were the most offensive players we  had on the bench."

Dougie Freedman of Nottingham Forest
Image: Dougie Freedman cleared Kelvin Wilson of blame for Watford's FA Cup winner at Nottingham Forest

Forest boss Dougie Freedman said: "You give them half a chance and they're going to take it and that's exactly what they've done and the game's over.

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"He's taken half a chance. I felt my team today worked very hard together as a team, didn't let themselves down at all. If their manager's honest he'll tell you they were quite fortunate to come away with that victory."

The Scot cleared Wilson of blame, saying: "I thought he was fantastic, Kelvin. I had no complaints at all. It's just unfortunate. I wouldn't even say it was a mistake, it's just come off him and it's landed to the guy."

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