SKIPPER Jay DeMerit emphasised the importance of team spirit in the squad as the Hornets move into the final stages of this year's campaign.

The Golden Boys face promotion chasing Leicester at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday (17 April), but the defender is confident that Watford will put together another self-assured performance on the pitch.

He said: "Our goal is to stick together, we've had some good performances over the last few weeks; it was just a case of some of the results going against us at the end of the day.

"I think we turned the corner on Saturday and now we have to keep that going.

"You have to make sure the guys are concentrating on the right thing throughout the game, that's partly my job but it's also everyone's responsibility in the team as well.

"We knew that if we kept a clean sheet against Plymouth we would have a good chance and we did that.

"If our tempo is right then we can beat anyone.

DeMerit is keeping his focus firmly fixed on the next few games

"We're a young and energetic team, they can put people under pressure and that's what we'll be aiming to do in the next few games.

"It's concentrating time now - every one needs to concentrate on their jobs and on being together.

"We need to come together now for the end of the season run in."

The American praised the efforts of the younger members of the squad who have showed their worth during the last couple of games, deputising for the injured and suspended members of the first team.

"It's that time of the year now when you can really benefit from fresh legs in the team" he said.

DeMerit: "We need to come together now for the end of the season run in."

"Players like Dale Bennett have come in and done fantastically well. He's a young kid who has really stepped up to the plate and we need guys like this to do that until the end of the season.

"I think what we have gone for over the last few weeks in defence is a smaller but quicker back four - we cover for each other and help each other out in a unit and hopefully we can continue to do that.

"The young guys are on a learning curve at the moment" explained DeMerit.

"It's great for them, you can learn a lot from these situations at this point in the season; how to stay consistent and how to see out games.

"These young guys who have come into the first team are doing just that, which is really important and they are learning some really valuable lessons.

"It's our job as the older pros to encourage them and let them know the occasion and that it's not too big for them."

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