Watford manager Sean Dyche has paid tribute to Troy Deeney after the substitute's winning goal against Brighton.
Watford boss overjoyed with substitute's winner against Brighton
Watford manager Sean Dyche has paid tribute to Troy Deeney after the substitute's winning goal against Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday.
The Hornets made it back-to-back home wins and put some more daylight between themselves and the bottom three with a 1-0 victory at Vicarage Road.
Prior to Saturday's 3-2 victory over Peterborough United, Watford had lost their four previous outings and the signs were potentially ominous after they had failed to capitalise on a first half they dominated for large parts.
But after a more even second period, Deeney came off the bench to give Dyche's men the break they deserved.
"Some you win," said the Watford boss with a smile when asked about the substitution.
"I am actually delighted for Troy because he works very hard for us and often fills in a number of positions and sometimes comes out of the team when it's a hard decision.
"He's started recently, he's just one of those players who fills slots which is really good for us - not so good when you're the player because obviously sometimes you don't fit that particular slot, or you'll fit three or four but not maybe as well as the one that gets the slot.
"It's a hard one for him but he's professional, works very hard for us, is good around the group and we respect him for that."
Very good
Reflecting on the game, Dyche said: "I thought in the first half we were very good with the tactics and pretty decent with the play and arguably had enough chances to at least score one.
"In the second half they had a bit of play, which we thought they might because they've got some good players, but I thought we limited them to the play around the back area of the pitch.
"I'll double-check but I think the stat was they didn't have a shot on target, which kind of says we were keeping them away from our goal. But they delivered what we thought would help us win the match and it did."
Very poor
Meanwhile, after watching his side go a ninth league game without victory, Brighton boss Gus Poyet pulled no punches.
"We were very poor today, I don't remember the last time we were so poor," he said. "We got what we deserved.
"We've got a way of playing football that's my way, we're trying to create an identity in the football club that's mine and at the moment the team is not capable of passing and moving the ball and playing football. It's as simple as that.
"Reasons? I can start crying that we're missing important players, blah, blah, blah...it doesn't matter. When you've got the chance to jump in there and you train one way to play that way and don't perform, there are no excuses."
