Rodgers proud despite loss

Rodgers: Took positives

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New Watford boss Brendan Rodgers said he was 'very proud' of his players after they lost 2-1 to Spurs in the Carling Cup.

The Hornets went ahead in the quarter-final clash via Tamas Priskin in the 13th minute, before a Roman Pavlyuchenko penalty brought Tottenham level on the stroke of half-time after Ross Jenkins brought down Jermaine Jenas.

Substitute Darren Bent then sealed the win with a 76th minute strike.

Rodgers told Sky Sports News that he was very proud of his players, believing his side had been terrific in terms of performance, with the game being on the edge to the very end.

Terrific start

"So I am very proud - I thought we made a terrific start, playing the football that we are trying to get them to play in terms of passing and moving. I thought we were good value for the goal," he said, adding he was "deeply disappointed" to give away the goal right on half-time.

"I thought we started well again second half, passing and moving it, but then obviously we got caught with the second goal and there's not long then to go and it was difficult.

"But as I said, very proud, I thought the supporters were fantastic, gave us all a great lift and I can be nothing but proud."

He said he had not seen the penalty again on the replay "but I always think that sometimes if you go fishing your leg and dangling your leg, the good players will make the most of that and get a penalty.

Disappointed

"So we're obviously disappointed at it at that stage of the game but it is something you have to live with."

Although he is just a week into the job, he said he was already seeing positive signs going forward.

"It is a fantastic experience for me the whole pressure situation, dealing with a football club as terrific as Watford and trying to push them forward and we'll do that for sure," he said.