Walter Mazzarri says Watford's victory over Burton was 'very important'

08 January 2017 13:38

Walter Mazzarri hopes Watford's Emirates FA Cup victory over Burton will have calmed his players as they seek to reverse their slide down the Premier League table.

Christian Kabasele and Jerome Sinclair struck either side of the break at Vicarage Road to complete a 2-0 win for the Hornets, ending a run of four defeats and a draw.

Combined with the news that Stefano Okaka, Nordin Amrabat and Valon Behrami are due back from injury this week, Mazzarri hopes the result leads to an improvement in Watford's fortunes.

"This win was very important. We needed this victory because lately we have been unlucky and my players were afraid that they would be paying a high price once again, like has been happening lately," he said.

"Now my players can be more relaxed and play like we did when they were 2-0 up against Burton - then they played without any problems."

Sinclair marked his sixth appearance since arriving at Vicarage Road in a £4million summer move from Liverpool with a superbly-taken 77th-minute strike, but the 20-year-old could yet be sent out on loan this month.

"I saw him in the first half against Burton and also against Stoke, he was a bit hesitant. That was a great goal that he scored against Burton," Mazzarri said.

"He's a player who needed this goal to hopefully unlock himself and be the Sinclair that I always see in training.

"We will see if he goes out on loan because he's a young player who needs to play as much as possible. He's a player with great potential."

Mazzarri hopes to strengthen his squad over the coming weeks, although declined to reveal any targets.

"I think some players will join us for sure. I have given some indications to the club where we need reinforcements," he said.

"The January transfer window is very difficult, but I'm very positive that someone will arrive."

Burton now resume their efforts to avoid relegation from the Championship and boss Nigel Clough is aware of the gap between Albion and the top flight.

"Premier League teams punish you and are capable of putting in a brilliant goal at any time, as they did with the second goal. Their quality is there to see - Watford are a Premier League quality team," Clough said.

"Maybe the difference between the bottom six of the Premier league to the top six in the Championship isn't so big, but from bottom of the Championship to mid table in the Premier league is a gulf."

Source: PA