I can handle the heat, says under-fire Watford boss Paulo Pezzolano

Watford head coach Paulo Pezzolano insists he can handle the pressure after Vivaldo Semedo’s first goal for the club stifled the air of mutiny at Vicarage Road and sealed a 2-1 win over Hull.

Home fans booed their team off at half-time and turned on their own manager before the Hornets’ second-half fightback lifted their mood.

Skipper Imran Louza’s first goal since February cancelled out Oli McBurnie’s fifth of the season.

The Tigers failed to capitalise on the appetite for revolt in the stands and 20-year-old Portuguese striker Semedo’s unmarked header from Louza’s corner 12 minutes from time completed an unlikely turnaround.

Pezzolano, beating his chest to indicate his fighting spirit, said: “In football, in life, you have to face these moments. The most important thing today was the players showed great attitude, character, consistency and they were relentless.

“It was beautiful that we turned the game around and I hope we can keep the same energy for the next games.

“Did the atmosphere affect me? No, not at all – fans are passionate, they just want to see their team win and we were not getting the result they wanted.

“What is a shame is that they feel like that so early in the season and if that element (of unhappiness) is seeping into the club we have to change that.

“We need to work to make them happy in a more regular way – it means there is a lot of work to be done.

“I’m human, this is not easy work, it is difficult sometimes. But I am Uruguayan and when the moment is difficult you have to give something extra.

“But as a coach, you are used to it. I love my work, there are many opportunities and, yes, there are many situations when you feel the pressure, but you have to keep going.

“Most of all I am happy for the fans, the people who work at the club every day and the staff – not just for the win but the performance.

“In the first half there was a lot of stress because they had one chance and they scored. That shook us a little bit, but I told the players to stay calm.”

Watford kicked off in the bottom three – their lowest league position since October 2011 – and, when McBurnie turned home Cody Drameh’s low centre to put the visitors in front, Watford fans responded with a concerto of boos and a chorus of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” aimed at Pezzolano.

McBurnie went close to a second eight minutes before the break, curling a 20-yard shot against a post.

But out of nowhere Louza smuggled a low finish inside goalkeeper Ivor Pandur’s left-hand post from Semedo’s lay-off before the pair combined again for the latter to win it.

Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic accused his players of turning in a “below-average” second-half display.

The Bosnian said: “McBurnie was perfect today, but we have to sort out our defence. I’m disappointed that we lost and so are the players.

“There were moments where we could have punished them to make it two or 3-0. That would have ended it. But in the second half, we didn’t even get close to the way we played for 45 minutes.

“We gave away two cheap goals. We should have defended them. Their coach will be very pleased, but I ask the people who shouted and booed him, ‘What now?’

“They will fire the coach or he will stay? I don’t understand this. Every coach wants the best from his team and if the team are following ideas, it will be OK.”