Tom Cleverley spoke to the media after Watford's 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns continued his unbeaten start after three games in the role.
In an action-packed second half, Edo Kayembe and Mileta Rajović gave the Hornets a 2-0 lead before Brandon Thomas-Asante and a late Darnell Furlong strike saw the spoils shared.
Read what the Interim Head Coach had to say below...
On the performance:
If you gave me a draw and a really positive performance before the game, you’d probably take that. The manner in which it happens feels a little bit disappointing, and I think that is a mark of where we want to get to.
We have played the league leaders, and then a really strong West Brom side away from home, and we are disappointed with picking up two draws. However, the performances of the last two games have given me real optimism for what’s ahead.
On building on a positive Easter weekend:
It’s the key in this league. It is absolutely relentless, you come off that accelerator one bit and Preston will absolutely hurt you on Saturday.
I asked the players for consistency before the game, I feel like they did that and the performance was excellent at times. We will analyse why we gave up a two-goal lead, but if they apply themselves like this 46 times a year then they are in a good place.
On taking draws against West Brom and Leeds ahead of time:
I’d say we wouldn’t take that, I think that’s my mentality, I wouldn’t have taken two draws ahead of it and I don’t want to think we are overachieving in these games.
I think this is absolutely the level we can play at in these games. I will be demanding that of the players every time we go out there, and I want them to feel a little bit disappointed, and ready to react on Saturday.
On instilling the same mentality in the players:
You try and give them the belief. They are good players, and if you add a real winning mentality and belief to that then you have got a good thing going on.
Yes I’ll have to pick them up a little bit, we're off tomorrow and back in Wednesday, and all eyes will be on Preston.
On the positive impact of his substitutions:
Milo [Mileta Rajović] has been fantastic since I came in, we all know Yáser's [Asprilla] qualities, but Milo has been brilliant since I came in.
His application, his desire to want to stay after training, and practice and get better, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying working with him. He has added a goal today and we see someone we can really rely on.
On his first three games as Interim Head Coach:
It has been a bit of a whirlwind, being so close to victory on all three occasions. Birmingham we were a little bit lucky to get all three, and in the last two we were a little bit unlucky to not pick up more.
It has been enjoyable, mixing it with three top managers, and I am thoroughly enjoying the experience.
On the Watford fans singing his name:
It will never get old. My son was in the away end today which was nice, and I think the way the whole club has galvanised around me and the team is moving.
I feel lucky to be a significant part of how well we are doing as a club, how long that is going to last I don’t know but I’ll do anything I can to ensure those fans are still singing at the end of the season.
On the support over the Easter weekend:
It’s brilliant, the atmospheres. They [fans] could easily be frustrated at the end of the game that we have not won today, but I think they see a group of players applying themselves the right way with the desire, and the heart to be a Watford player, to play for the badge, and we really appreciate their support.
