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Watford's under pressure Javi Gracia has dismissed the loss of Troy Deeney by insisting that Watford have plenty of alternative leaders.

West Ham will no doubt have been buoyed by the news that the Hornets will be missing a player who has proved to be the club's nemesis in recent seasons.

However Gracia insisted that Watford - who go into the game bottom of the Premier League and without a point so far - have plenty of players in their squad capable of replacing the injured striker.



"We have many captains and if Troy isn't in the team, we have others," Gracia said during his pre-match press conference on Friday. "Three or four players have experience, like Mariappa, like Capoue, Foster and Gomes.

"Always there are players with experience and they will try to show the rest of the team how to do many things. But we don't need many bosses now: we need workers. We need workers, workers, workers to fight and to play."

Gracia's team were convincingly beaten by Brighton at Vicarage Road on the opening day of the season in one of the biggest surprises so far, going down 3-0, before losing 1-0 at Everton last weekend.

And the Spanish coach insisted that Watford's best chance of recording their first points of the campaign is by showing "our desire, our passion".

"This way we have chances to win the games," he added. "If we don't do it every game it will be very, very tough for us because all the teams have very good players.

"The first thing we have to do is try to be very concentrated and try to show our real level. We have to do it. We have to keep calm, keep playing with the intensity we need; everybody knows we want the three points.

"We want the supporters to enjoy it with the team and in this moment I'm sure the supporters will be helping the team. It's the moment to see the reaction and to try to get points."



Gracia also pointed out that his side were unlucky to lose at Goodison Park last weekend - and maintained that if his team produce a similar performance, the result could be very different when they face West Ham on Saturday.

" In the last game, we had a good performance; it's true it wasn't enough and we need to improve many things, but there were positives as well," he added.

"We improved many things compared with the first game. We competed well but we didn't take our chances. They scored one goal and they got the points.

"We showed a better attitude, a better commitment and this is the right way for us. After that defeat we have to improve things and playing at home is the best place and best moment to try to get the points in play."

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