PEARSON: PRESSURE? TROY JUST LOVES IT

NIGEL PEARSON hailed the Troy Deeney effect on Watford as he prepared his side for today’s crunch basement battle with Bournemouth.

The Hornets boss had tried to sign Deeney for Leicester to partner him with Jamie Vardy.

But the Foxes could not get the deal over the line and it was only last month that Deeney and Pearson were finally united at Vicarage Road. Since Pearson’s arrival, Deeney (below) has scored three goals in four games to help his side to the three wins and a draw that have given them a real shot at staying up.

“We tried to take Troy to Leicester,” said Pearson. “It’s his game effectiveness. He’s a player who understands what his strengths are and he’s a focal point.

“We played with two up front, so it was always going to be important to have somebody to play off. That was the idea. He was somebody we thought would improve us, but we couldn’t do it at that point. “I’m aware of his large character as well. All those things mean he brings something different and it’s important.”

Deeney is a straight talker and, while that does not sit well with all bosses, it does with Pearson.

He said: “Because Troy has been at Watford a long while, he cares about the football club.

“I speak about things being authentic, I’m not a believer in people sucking up to other people, it’s got to have an element of authenticity.

“That’s the important thing and we need to recognise collectively what is going to give us the best chance of getting out of the situation we’re in. I look at what Troy gives us in games.

“He’s a difficult player to play against and he likes playing under pressure. We’ve won penalties recently and it’s clear that in the situation, the pivotal moments for us to win the game or not, I don’t think for one second he doubted himself about taking the penalties.

“You need players who are able to play under pressure in the situation we’re in.”