Malky: ‘We Deserved The Win’

SPEAKING to SkySports News following today`s 1-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle, manager Malky Mackay was evidently pleased with his depleted troops who saw their victory create a three point gap between themselves and the dreaded drop zone.

‘I think on the balance of chances today, I can’t remember Scott [Loach] having a save to make and obviously we hit the bar in the first half and Don Cowie’s flick that went that side of the post and then the closest one of all, Heidar putting the ball over from five yards.’

‘At that point I was beginning to get a bit worried, but on the balance of chances I think we deserved the win.’

Mackay continued, saying that in spite of the result, his side are still not safe from the threat of relegation to League One:

‘I think we’ve got to keep pressing. We’ve still got four [games] to go, some have got three to go, and I think at both ends of the table it’s certainly not until the second-last game of the season for some clubs.’

‘I think there’s teams that will be sucked back into it, so I think it’s very tight down there and it’s all to play for, for us.’

Mackay`s opposing number, Paul Marriner, was critical of his side following their second half display and which he accused them of ‘not reaching the commitment levels required`:

‘We were happy to come in at [half-time at] 0-0,’ he said. ‘I thought Watford were bright, they were on the front foot, they did exactly what we wanted to do and we didn’t do it.’

‘It’s probably the worst performance since the Queens Park Rangers game away from home.’

‘I’m not critical of anybody in particular, I’m just critical of the group. All of us have got to rise to the challenge.’

‘Until it’s impossible for us to stay up we’ll be fighting and whatever happens on Monday [week, against Newcastle] we’ll be fighting and trying to show we’re capable of bouncing back if we go down, or that we’re worth another chance to stay in the division because we need to show to our fans, who again were fantastic, what we’re made of.’ The former England striker concluded.