Defender Jamal Lewis is eager to make amends following a disappointing defeat to Leeds United last weekend, as the Hornets look to return to winning ways against Middlesbrough this Saturday (September 30, 3pm KO).
The 25-year-old, who made his first start of the campaign against the Whites, is looking to inspire a response at Vicarage Road later this week with Watford searching for their third victory of the season.
Lewis is under no illusion about the qualities that Boro possess, despite Michael Carrick’s side having struggled at the start of the current Sky Bet Championship campaign, and the full-back knows that the Hornets will have to be on their best form to beat the team from Teesside.
“I kept an eye on the Championship last year and you saw Michael Carrick taking charge at the club and they had a great end to last season,” Lewis began.
“They missed out in the end, but it’s the Championship. You have teams that went full steam ahead last season and are struggling a bit more this season.
“Once you find that form you need to capitalise on it. When the whistle blows, we need to let everyone know [that the defeat to Leeds United] was a one-off. They have come to Vicarage Road and they’re not going to get a run of form or any momentum when they come up against us.
“There are a lot of talented individuals in our dressing room, it’s just about putting it together and knowing what to expect from each other. It’s about getting results at the end of the day. In the Championship, there are many games and if you go on a good run of form you can find yourself up the table.
“We want to be in and around it, and we have to put the points on the board. Home games should be a given when we have a good chance to get three points. The result against Leeds was not what we wanted and we’re looking forward to putting that right this Saturday against Middlesbrough.”
Having swapped Newcastle’s St. James’ Park for The Vic, Lewis has enjoyed moving closer to home, giving him the extra edge on the pitch, helping him make a quicker transition behind the scenes.
“It’s been a pleasant environment to come into,” he continued. “From the staff, the manager and the players, I’ve really enjoyed my first few months here. It’s been nice to be closer to home, normally I play far from home.
“Being close to friends and family gives me the extra motivation to want to do well, have them around and enjoy the process week in and out. My family has come to a couple of home games.
“I had a little pre-season niggle - I had a calf injury and it’s football so you get those things. You have to be patient but from the day I came here, I was eager to help the team, impress and help the team kick on.
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“It was a little bit of a delayed process, but I feel like I’m here now and getting the minutes in the legs is vital for that. It’s going to be a building process and I just want to help the team as much as possible. I feel like I’m at that place where I can do that. I’m just looking forward to the games to come.”
His first appearance came against Birmingham City in a dramatic 2-0 victory in front of the Watford faithful, with Lewis - a second-half substitute - helping rouse the Hornets to a victory. The Northern Ireland international is hoping to repeat a similar feat against Boro.
He added: “[The Birmingham City match] shows the quality in the team, which I’ve seen since I arrived. When we put things together, we can put teams away quite comfortably.
“The boys that have been here are playing a new style and they have to get used to it and adapt to what the manager expects from them, but I really believe that the players are capable of doing that. We just need to put the results together and that’s the aim that we want to achieve.”
