Cleverley highlights the gulf between the top four and the rest
Tom Cleverley feels not only will the two automatic promotion places be contested by four clubs, but that quartet of teams are a cut above the rest in the Championship.
The current top four have opened up a six-point gap on the 20 teams below them and the Watford head coach does not see that changing in the second half of the season.
“With all due respect to the other teams outside the top four, I think there is quite a big gulf in the league this season between Sunderland, Sheffield United, Burnley and Leeds, and the rest,” he said.
“I think the rest are quite comfortably outside the levels of that top four.
“Not just technically or in terms of speed, but these clubs expect a certain mentality. They play like they expect to win.
“They know how to make it make happen when they’re maybe not at their best, which we have done this season too at times.
“But they are just a level above: Sheffield United have come here today with a lot of injuries to key players and managed to grind out a result when, for large parts, we were the better side.
“I know what it’s like being at both ends of the table, and sometimes it is not quality why you’re at the top.
“You’re just expected to win, and know-how to find a win, when you’re at the top end.
Despite dropping to ninth, Watford’s lowest league position of the season, Cleverley still praised his team.
“The players in the main have been fantastic,” he said.
“It’s a pleasure to work with them and they’re showing me the desire to improve, and there is massive frustration and disappointment in that dressing room.
“Ok do we have quite yet the solidity of the Sheffield United group? Probably not.
“But we’re certainly heading in the right direction from where we were as a group of players that I was involved in 18/24 months ago.
“We are more resilient now. Are where we need to be? No.
“We’re still on that journey but there’s no fingers pointed at the players and I certainly don’t get frustrated.
“I know how tough it is to be a player out there when the pressure is high.”
