BURNLEY, England (Reuters) – Watford’s new supervisor Roy Hodgson conceded there will likely be loads of ‘what am I doing’ moments after the 74-year-old watched his aspect grind out a 0-0 draw away to backside membership Burnley in a Premier League basement conflict on Saturday.
Standing in the rain and wind at Turf Moor on Saturday night, a soaked Hodgson may have been excused wishing he was back at residence on a heat couch.
But for a person who lives and breathes the sport it was clear he was delighted to be back in the old routine as he tried to persuade Watford — the seventeenth membership he has managed in a much-travelled profession — to a significant victory.
In the tip a degree apiece in a sport low on high quality did little for both aspect’s hopes of avoiding relegation though Watford did edge above Newcastle United into 18th spot, one level behind Norwich City with a sport in hand.
“I’m lifelike sufficient to know that as joyful as I used to be to take up the supply, there will likely be loads of occasions I’ll suppose ‘what on earth am I doing?’ And I’ll cope with these after they come,” former England supervisor Hodgson mentioned.
While there was little to cheer the away followers on a bleak night, a primary Premier League clear sheet in 31 video games supplied some consolation for Hodgson.
“It’s a very troublesome place to come back. I do not suppose many will sit up for video games in opposition to Burnley,” Hodgson mentioned. “I’m happy with the best way the gamers went about their work.
“They confirmed nice spirit, nice willpower and I feel they confirmed everyone that they nonetheless care very a lot and they rolled their sleeves up.
“We know except we defend in the best way we did right this moment — being compact and aggressive in our urgent — then you definately will not get clear sheets in the Premier League. I believed this was a stern take a look at after solely 10 days with the gamers and I believed they handled it very properly.”
While Burnley have video games in hand on the groups above them, their failure to attain targets is now turning into vital, though new signing Wout Weghorst did supply some risk.
A tenth draw in 19 league video games was greeted with some boos at fulltime and supervisor Sean Dyche is aware of that his aspect want to begin selecting up victories quickly.
“It’s vital we modify these attracts into wins. We play two prime sides subsequent however that is the best way it goes,” mentioned Dyche, whose aspect face Manchester United and Liverpool subsequent week.
“We’ve been sturdy in the second half of the season traditionally however we’ve got to go and do this once more.
“We’re one level higher off than we have been at this stage final 12 months which could not sound so much, however it could be essential come the tip of the season.”
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
