Zola: 'Lack of clean sheets not a concern'

In the wake of Watford's 2-1 victory over fellow Play-Off hopefuls Middlesbrough, head coach Gianfranco Zola said he was not concerned about Watford's inability to keep clean sheets, 'as long as we score one more than the opposition'.

The Hornets overcame a ropey offensive display in the first-half to secure an invaluable win at the Riverside and put a two-point buffer between themselves and seventh-placed Millwall.

Zola's side remain sixth - a place and four points behind the Teessiders with a game in hand.

A brace from Matej Vydra won the tie before Scott McDonald continued his run of fine form against the Hornets with a last-gasp consolation header.

Speaking afterwards to The Watford Observer, Zola denied that the Hornet's leaky backline was a problem:

'I don`t mind as long as we score one more than the opposition.'

Zola continued: "The second half was good but the first half wasn`t really.

'We didn`t deserve to be 1-0 up in the first half; it was a present from the opposition. They had their chances in the first half and they played well but they didn`t take them.'

'Boro boss Tony Mowbray also highlighted the importance of the game's opening goal as he spoke to the Middlesbrough Official Site:

'I think we beat ourselves today,' stated Mowbray.

'We really smothered them in the first half and I thought we were on top but to go 1-0 down in the manner we did was very disappointing.'

The Golden Boys are back in action when they take on Huddersfield Town in WD18 next Saturday.

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