Yahoo Sport 
Cleverley: 'We will always approach a game trying to win it'
Watford head coach Tom Cleverley said he is not picking teams that can keep things safe and secure until he throws the flair players on later in games.
At Hull the Hornets had the likes of Kwadwo Baah, Rocco Vata and Festy Ebosele sat on the bench for an hour or more – and needed two of them to link up and earn a late point.
However Cleverley said he would never set out to try for a late smash and grab.
“No we never approach games with that mentality,” he stressed.
“We will always approach a game trying to win it.
“It’s just not my style to be waiting for the last half an hour and hopefully something will happen from a substitute.
“That’s not the case tonight.
“I’m really pleased with the impact the substitutes had and it is their challenge to get in the team from the start.
“And, yes, my team selection this evening, wanting us to be more solid, played a part.”
Despite not having played for 10 days, the Hornets did not look any fresher than Hull, who played at the weekend.
“Psychologically you try and tell the players that we should be the fresher team this evening because we’ve had no game, but it’s nonsense,” said Cleverley.
“I’m telling you from experience: the team who played on Saturday can sometimes feel rhythm from playing and then playing again.
“I’ll be honest, you try and tell the players that we should be the fresher team but you know deep down it has absolutely no part to play.
“I knew they’d be fresh with the new manager bounce and I was expecting a difficult game.
“In the second half they came on strong and we just couldn’t break through their pressure.
“The main thing is we’ve come away with a point and shown good character at the end.”
The Hornets head coach said he felt, as the game wore on, the MKM Stadium surface did not help playing football.
“I’m the first to say we find solutions, not excuses, but tonight I’ll probably make an excuse for the players because it was a very unsteady pitch.
“Underfoot it was unsteady and I think that was the reason for the lack of quality and the turnovers lower in the pitch.
“Maybe if I could have done anything about that in the second half it was perhaps to go more direct.”
