'A poor performance like the one at Burnley will enforce changes'
After such a poor display at Burnley on Saturday, nobody in the squad can take their place for granted.
Tom Cleverley stressed that sub-standard performances such as that which contributed to the 2-1 defeat at Turf Moor will be met with team changes.
Watford start a run of four Championship games in 10 days when Portsmouth visit Vicarage Road on Boxing Day (Thursday, 3pm) but, regardless of the need to rotate players to navigate through a crowded schedule, the head coach made it clear the showing on Saturday will necessitate changes.
“It’s one of those balances, because sometimes your playing squad build up a certain amount of credit, which I felt we did at the start of the season by winning five games in a row,” said Cleverley.
“Then you can afford them the one poor performance.
“But that credit is at a neutral level at the minute, and a poor performance like the one at Burnley will enforce changes.
“We have the good quality within the squad to be able to do that.”
The good news is that the squad has not suffered any serious new problems, and a player conspicuous by his absence at Burnley should be available again on Thursday.
“Imran Louza, who has been ill, has trained today and so we’re very hopeful that he’ll be available to play on Thursday.
“Everyone else came through the game well – Kwadwo Baah suffered a small knock but it won’t be enough to rule him out for Thursday.
“The squad have come out of the game in good health.”
Only eight points from a possible 33 in away games means the excellent form Watford have shown on their own turf so far is even more important.
With the next two games at home, the pressure to maintain Vicarage Road as a fortress increases.
“The players have dealt with that added pressure really well,” said Cleverley.
“We’ve had six or seven games now where there has been that extra pressure on the home games.
“And that pressure can be because we’re following a bad away result, and because it’s very public how good our home form is now.
“Six or seven times now the players have dealt with that pressure, and it’s something I’m confident the players will continue to deal with.”
