XISCO DANCING AFTER HIS HORNETS GIVE REDS FRIGHT

WATFORD manager Xisco Munoz said his team are heading in the right direction, despite their FA Cup exit at Manchester United.

The Championship side refused to fold having conceded after only five minutes and played with guile and enterprise against their more illustrious opponents.

Ultimately, the Hornets did not have enough to plunder the goal they needed, but Munoz (above) said he had seen progress in only his third game in charge. “I’m proud of my players,” he said. “Every day they’re growing up, every day they’re working very hard and we need to continue. We had a good performance and it’s important we believe in our team.

Munoz reserved special praise for Danish winger Philip Zinckernagel, who made his Watford debut.

“I’m very happy with him,” he added. “He gives different things to the team. He has good intensity and does good things with the ball. It’s perfect for the group to have him.”