ONE of Sean Dyche's mantras about football is to never get too high when winning and never too low if things aren't going so well - but that didn't stop him appearing to be in ebullient mood ahead of Watford's trip to Nottingham Forest tomorrow.

At his weekly press call, the Watford manager spoke not just about the challenge that awaits at his former club but also about the desire to continue to "fuel the demand" - as he put it - for performances from within the squad.

"It means we're serious about looking to strengthen where we can using the loan market," stressed the Hornets' boss.

"That's not to say the demand isn't in the group now, because I believe our recent performances have shown that it is. But the demand is there within our group now. I believe we're seeing performances that back that up.

"We'll travel on Saturday full of confidence, but very wary of the threat of this division meaning that all the time the next game ahead of you poses the biggest challenge."

Sean Dyche feels Watford's performances can be "polished further"

And that's Forest for the Hornets, tomorrow. There was a general feeling that we were simply on loan to the relegation zone earlier in the campaign, but The City Ground faithful are now harbouring genuine fears of what relegation might bring - particularly given the untimely recent death of owner and benefactor, the late Nigel Doughty.

"No club is immune to the various challenges in football, and I'm sure the good people of Forest feel they're really being tested right now," explained Dyche.

"It's a fantastic club, as me and some of my coaching staff know from personal experience.

"We can only offer our sympathies about the passing of their owner, but this is all the more reason to focus on what we are doing and leave Forest to their side of it."

Hornets' fans may have heard the manager re-iterate during a number of post-match interviews that he feels his squad "aren't the finished article" and are still "building forwards".

"And I mean that, because we are developing all the time. I still feel we can polish further our recent performances - and that's what we'll be looking to do against Forest."

Team News:
It's as you were for Watford, with only Stephen McGinn (knee) and Martin Taylor (toe) missing. "Our sports science and medical team are doing a great job with the squad," commented Dyche. "Conditions haven't been ideal this week, but we've had plenty of programmes for the players to work through, and we'll have had a really good week all in all."

Join guest summariser Craig Ramage and Jon Marks for full, uninterrupted commentary on tomorrow's game
- including an exclusive preview show live from The City Ground at 2.30pm