WATFORD'S win last Saturday against The Royals at Vicarage Road ensured Championship football for the Hornets for next season and as the team prepare for their final game of the campaign, the Hornets manager told www.watfordfc.com he felt the win had been threatening over the last few weeks.

Malky Mackay said: "That scoreline has been coming in various games recently. If you look at the amount of chances we've created in the games at home, in most games people will have see entertainment and goals.

"The games where we haven't picked up a win are in games where we haven't been able to put the ball in the back of the net.

"It's about turning chances into goals and that's what we did on Saturday, and that makes a huge difference.

"The fact we had numerous chances as well - Danny Graham had a couple, Martin Taylor got a ball cleared off the line that really showed the effort and the energy from the team.

"It could have been a really tense, nervous day and people can freeze on days like that, but they way we performed on Saturday made me really proud of the team."

Having lost various first-team players last summer, the Watford boss says he was always going to look to the youngsters of the team to make a difference during the season.

He praised the efforts of several of the Academy graduates who had to make a very quick transition from youth level to first-team Championship level.

He added: "Youngsters like Lee Hodson and Dale Bennett have had to come in and produce and the fact they had to come in and survive, it's great and I'm delighted for them.

"Normally players of that age would have be dipping in and out of the first team now and then, not playing 20 odd games like Lee and at least 10 games at a really important time of the season - that gives you the scale of where they're at now as players."

Heidar Helguson and Henri Lansbury - two of Watford's talented loanee players this season

Watford managed to capture some very successful loanees for the duration of the season in the shape of Tom Cleverley, Heidar Helguson and Henri Lansbury, and Malky predicts some more movement in the loan market from the Hornets next season.

"It's down to relationships and whether the other teams trust me and the staff and this football club with their players" commented the manager.

"Thankfully Manchester United and Arsenal have done that this year and we've given them back international footballers.

"Tom and Henri both got call ups to the England Under-21 squad while they were here because of their form.

"Our staff and coaches here took care of those Premiership players and the players got the chance to grow up as footballers and as people in that year.

"This means that hopefully other football clubs will see us as a safe bet for their players again for next season."

Malky on Adrian Mariappa: "He's grown into a fine young man."

Defender Adrian Mariappa signed a contract extension at the beginning of the week - and the Hornets boss said he was delighted with the news.

He commented: "Aidy is another one who has grown this year and become a captain of the first team.

"He's led from the front and he had a lot of growing up to do very quickly, but he's handled it immaculately and has been a consistent player for us this season and has grown into a fine young man."

Last on the list of the Hornets this season is a trip to the Ricoh arena on Sunday which the 'Orns boss is determined to take another three points from.

"We want to go there and win, no doubt about that" he said.

"I want to change the away record we have at the moment. I think there have been times this year where we have done so much to try and get the win and it hasn't come.

"But, we have to go out there and perform on Sunday and bring three points back. I want to get us as far up the league as possible, to finish on a high after Saturday and the way we finished at home.

"I think it's only right that we go up to Coventry and do the same for our travelling fans too."

Malky explained that apart from a couple of knocks, he has a fully fit squad for the trip to the Midlands.

"Jay DeMerit, Heidar Helguson and Ross Jenkins have knocks. Heidar will be touch and go and we will do a late fitness test on Ross" the manager confirmed.

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