Friday 26 December 2014 21:42, UK
Kenny Jackett admitted Wolves' failure to take their chances was "perhaps going to cost us" following their 1-0 victory at Watford.
The former midfielder had a distinguished career as a player and coach with the Hornets, but he had never tasted victory as an opponent at Vicarage Road. But that has now changed after Nouha Dicko converted a Rajiv van La Parra cross in the 57th minute.
The goal was the least Wolves deserved after a superb first-half display but it looked like the visitors might rue their failure to convert at least one of numerous opportunities in a fine first-half display.
"I thought it was perhaps going to cost us because we had a lot of chances and were pretty dominant," Jackett acknowledged. "The second period was a bit more dominant, nothing really much happened and then we've got the goal I felt we deserved by that time.
"After that, Watford with their substitutions - I thought (Fernando) Forestieri made a difference - they came back into it and put us under pressure but I thought we showed fantastic character and heart; a lot of good blocks in that box and first to the ball to make sure we saw the game through and got the three points."
Asked about van La Parra's involvement with the goal, Jackett said: "Our front three today were very good and we got them into good positions and I felt were a threat all the way through the game.
"They've been big players for us, those guys, and if we can keep them all fit and available - it's been a big part of our games that we've won when we've had that front line available and firing like it was today."
Watford did hit the crossbar twice in the second half but head coach Slavisa Jokanovic had no complaints about the outcome, criticising his team's mental approach to the game.
"It's probably we still don't understand Christmas is over," he said. "It's simple. The opposing team was stronger, faster, [quicker] to the second ball.
"They played liked adults against kids in some parts of the game, especially in the first 45 minutes. They deserved to score some goals but didn't.
"In the second half we decided to change some things to find a way to win the game but they scored the goal. We improved and made some chances, shooting two times against the bar, but it's not enough for us to win some points today and it's not enough at this level when we have important dreams and thinking about the important things we want to do this season."
Watford have made no secret of their promotion ambitions this season but Jokanovic said: "We must show if we are a Premier League side or not. What we showed today, no, we are not.
"If somebody believes 'I am a Premier League player', you must show it in the Championship first and then after if somebody offers us this opportunity in joining the Premier League or not. If I don't do what I must do now, it's going to be very difficult for us."
