A RELIEVED Watford manager was able to hold his head up high at the final whistle today at Bloomfield Road, having watched his side make it into the play-off places and earn a two-legged tie with Hull City.

And the cry to follow was 'let's make May our month' as he looked ahead to a chance to repeat the heroics of the Millennium Stadium in 2006.

Speaking after the one-all draw at Blackpool this afternoon, the Yorkshireman said: "We've limped in by one goal, but the main thing is that we're in there. We showed a lot of determination to get back in there after losing Darius.

"At the moment I am mixed, thrilled that we've made the play-offs but disappointed that we haven't got automatic. But we've got to lick our wounds and go again and we've got two huge games to get through now.

"Relegation is a difficult thing to overcome and to finish where we have, despite what we've been through, does show character. We've done it, we're in and we've just got to make sure we win it."

Tommy Smith again proved to be the hero of the hour with his priceless strike when the game was running away from Watford, and the manager was quick to praise his wingman.

"He likes the big occasions which we're pleased about, I thought he has been great this season and whilst some of the players and team have been up and down, he has been consistently very good. I am delighted he scored his goal."

On the match itself, Boothroyd had the following to say on events at the seaside: "It was a poor goal to concede very early on and you don't give yourself much help when you do things like that.

"But we have the character for the fight and if we'd have started like that then perhaps we wouldn't be where we are today.

"Rachubka has made some great saves in the first half and we've had the ball bounce across the line and nobody put it in. They've had a couple off the line, but we've done it with ten men.

On Henderson's sending off the manager added: "The referee let a lot of things go for both teams and that's fine as long as he does that, but when you're booked there is always a chance something else is going to happen. I am disappointed to lose him.

"Will we miss him? I can only answer that after the first leg, but he is a big player for us. We can't cry over that we just have to get on with it."

It's Hull City now for the Hornets and a chance to regroup and go again at the Humberside venue.

"We got a good kicking up there and got what we deserved but at the same we beat them at home", he said.

"There are big game players and then there are players and I think that we've got big game players. We're at home first, which I think will help us, and then we have got to go up to Hull and see what we get up there. I think we've got enough.

"I am thrilled that we're in the play-offs, we've been to an FA Cup semi-final, been to the Premiership and now we've another chance of promotion, so we've got to make sure we keep it going."

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