Proud Javi Gracia sees Watford record impressive win over Stoke

Watford boss Javi Gracia spoke of his pride in his players after they broke down the meanest defence in the Championship to beat Stoke 1-0 at Vicarage Road.

Danish striker Luca Kjerrumgaard fired the winner from Imran Louza’s 74th-minute free kick to stretch the Hornets’ unbeaten home run to nine matches.

Gracia’s men have also lost only one of their last 10 games, and he said: “We knew before he game that Stoke were playing well, not getting good results but competing really well.

“They also have quality in attack, so the clean sheet was important. In previous games, we have been conceding one or two goals and it is very difficult to get three points when we’re conceding.”

Gracia’s family came over from Spain to see his side record only their second clean sheet since he returned to Watford in October and he said: “It was something we really needed.

“If we want to compete with the best teams, we need to be more solid. You can’t concede one or two goals. It’s impossible for us to score two or three goals in every game.

“Today, I’m proud because the players followed the plan. They were in the right positions to defend well and be solid.

“After half-time, we kept believing a win was possible. We got the points, and I’m really proud. All the players showed the right attitude and discipline.”

This was no birthday present for Stoke chief Mark Robins, who turns 56 on Monday.

He had been hoping to see his team climb into the top six, but now they have won just one in the last five.

Robins said: “It was disappointing and frustrating. But I can’t keep asking for more when the players are giving everything they’ve got.

“It’s not quite there yet – it’s not quite good enough at times so we end up giving a stupid foul away, which gives Watford the opportunity to put the ball into our box and load our box with quality.

“Then Watford get first contact, they get second contact and it wins them the game. It’s as simple as that. The way Kjerrumgaard got the goal was too easy.”

The home side broke through after that foul, with Watford skipper Imran Louza floating a free kick into the box from the left.

Hector Kyprianou nodded the ball across the box and Kjerrumgaard met the ball unmarked at the far post to clinch the three points with his seventh goal of the season.

Robins said: “There are a lot of good things happening in games, but clearly we’re missing that clinical last touch.

“That’s the frustration that everybody is feeling. But it’s where we’re at. I can’t keep applying pressure to the players because they’re giving me everything they’ve got.

“You can only give as much as you’ve got. If they are giving me 100 per cent there is no such thing as 101 per cent.

“We’re all wanting more but you can’t always have more. It’s really difficult for me to come out and say it.

“I want to score more goals and see more goalmouth action but this is as good as we can get at the moment – and by the way some of it is really good.”