Watford boss has no room for FA Cup sentiment

WAT FOR D head coach Nigel Pearson has no regrets about pr ior it i s i n g P r e m ie r L e a g ue s u r v i v a l ove r FA C up g lor y this season ahead of tonight’s third-round replay at Tranmere.

The Hornets will do battle with the League One side for a second time this month after the original encounter on January 4 finished 3-3.

A much-changed Watford XI

– including various fringe players and debutants – let slip a three-goal lead two weeks ago and they will face off at Prenton Park to decide who hosts Manchester United or Wolves in the fourth round.

Pearson reached the FA Cup Final as a player with Middlesbrough in 1997 but, after playing at Bournemouth on Sunday and with a trip to Tottenham coming up, he feels he has little choice but to rotate his squad.

“I am paid to make decisions based on what is right for our club,” he said.

“I can’t be sentimental. I have always been someone who has enjoyed playing in cup runs but I am a manager so my role is different.

“The demands of the game now are incredibly high and the players’ work-rate at Bournemouth was unbelievable so we need to get the recovery right and make sure we are ready for the game on Saturday.

“This is where other players get opportunities. I don’t make any excuses for it and I don’t apologise for it.

“You also need to remember what the financial implications are of losing Premier League status. It comes down more to that.”