Quique Sanchez Flores confident in Watford strike pair
Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores is confident his strike partnership of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney will soon rediscover their golden touch.
The Hornets host table-toppers Leicester on Saturday in what is set to be a pivotal match in the race for the Barclays Premier League title.
But Watford will head into the encounter short on goals after failing to find the back of the net in six of their last eight league matches.
Indeed only Aston Villa and Newcastle, both in the relegation zone, and Swansea have scored fewer goals than Watford this term.
"Creating attempts is the most important thing, but we create attempts so I am not worried," said Flores, whose side have 29 goals from 28 matches this season.
"There are teams in the Premier League who have scored less goals than us, so we are not the absolute worst team in these terms.
"The most important thing is the balance we have created since the beginning - the goals we have conceded and the goals we have scored - and our (goal difference) is zero from 28 matches.
"Simply, we need to be more effective but I have a lot of confidence in Deeney and Ighalo and the second line that we should score some day."
Ighalo's strong start to the season saw him linked with a high-profile move away from Watford, with both Arsenal and Manchester United reported to be among his pursuers in the transfer window.
But the Nigerian has scored just one league goal in 2016, while strike partner Deeney has only two goals to his name since the turn of the year - both in Watford's 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace.
Flores added: "The situation of Ighalo is that he is fit, he is creating attempts, he is our main player, our main striker, and our reference in attack.
"In the last match against Manchester United he created five attempts, and three more against Bournemouth, so in one instance he is ready to score.
"Some day, maybe tomorrow, he will finish the bad run and he will be able to score again.
"The morale of Leicester is very high but our morale is also high," Flores added ahead of his side's clash against Claudio Ranieri's side.
"We are playing well and we are confident after playing against Man United. I want to win tomorrow but Leicester deserve to be top of the league."
Defender Craig Cathcart looks set to miss the game after failing to recover from a calf injury.
Meanwhile, Ranieri has given an insight into the imaginary bell routine he has been using to keep his players alert and smiling during their unlikely push for the title.
Foxes midfielder Danny Drinkwater revealed in an interview this week that Ranieri has a habit of making a noise like a ringing bell at anyone in the squad he feels is not paying attention.
And when that was put to Ranieri on Friday at his press conference to preview Saturday's trip to Watford, he said: "If Drinky says something, it is true!
"I tell them 'dilly-ding, dilly-dong' when they are sleeping.
"From the beginning, when something was wrong, I said 'dilly-ding, dilly-dong, wake up' during training sessions.
"And on Christmas day, I bought for each of the players a little bell, just as a joke. It was a funny thing.
"Every manager is different and has their philosophy, their way. I like to (try to make it so) my players and myself, everybody can do our job, but with a smile - that is my philosophy.
"I don't want to see sad people around me. It is important to stay together, smiling."
Ranieri has rarely looked anything other than relaxed during Leicester's remarkable season, and he most certainly appeared at ease on Friday - with his team sitting three points clear at the top, 10 games away from the end of the campaign.
Before the Foxes' trip to Watford, second-placed Tottenham host third-placed Arsenal - who are six points off the summit - in a crunch Saturday lunchtime north London derby.
But Ranieri has stressed the importance of Leicester not worrying about what their title rivals are doing, only concentrating on their own task.
"My philosophy is not to look at the others - that is not important," said the 64-year-old Italian, who could have midfielder N'Golo Kante - missing from the 2-2 draw with West Brom on Tuesday due to a hamstring injury - back available.
"What we are doing is important. We must think what we can do. At the end, if someone is above us, we'll say well done."
Asked what result he would like from the derby, Ranieri joked: "I don't know - can they both lose?"
Source: PAR
