Aston Villa 0-1 Watford: Roy Hodgson says there is 'a long way to go'
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Dennis' goal was Watford's first since Roy Hodgson became manager a month ago
Roy Hodgson said there is still "a long way to go" this season despite claiming his first win as Watford manager.
Villa dominated but Watford grabbed all three points when Emmanuel Dennis powered home Ismaila Sarr's 78th-minute cross after an opportunistic counter-attack.
It ended the visitors' four-game goal drought and lifted them up to 18th in the Premier League, four points from safety.
"The danger now is that we think we've cracked it and that what we needed to do between now and the end of the season has been done," Hodgson told BBC Match of the Day. "There's such a long way to go."
'We're going to need strong performances'
Incredibly, Watford's past six league away wins have come under six different managers.
The managerial merry-go-round has been well reported, and Hodgson already seemed under pressure coming into this fixture after collecting just one point from an available nine since taking charge in January.
As the game went on, Watford were on course to drop to the bottom of the table and looked set to equal a club record of five consecutive games without a goal.
"We're going to need strong performances," said Hodgson.
"[We need] people who are prepared to chase back a bit more than they're used to doing. [We need people] to put their foot into challenges a bit more than they're used to doing."
Aston Villa 0-1 Watford: Roy Hodgson - Villa is a difficult place to take three points
Watford soaked up plenty of Villa pressure and twice went close through Dennis and Moussa Sissoko on the break.
Sarr, starting his first match since winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, created the winner, chipping the ball up for Dennis to nod in.
Watford held on for their first victory in 12 matches, since beating Manchester United 4-1 in November.
"That's what we've got to do if we are to get any more points," said Hodgson. "We're quite divorced from the teams above us."
'Villa not good enough'
Having started his reign at Villa with four wins from six matches, manager Steven Gerrard has now seen them lose four of their past eight.
They are closer to the relegation zone than they are to European place.
"The results are the same. That's the reality so the feelings are the same," Gerrard told Match of the Day.
"I am very much aware of our recent form. We've taken one point from the last three from teams behind us."
Aston Villa 0-1 Watford: We need to keep believing in ourselves - Gerrard
Villa should have gone in front in the 34th minute when Danny Ings struck the base of the right post when clean through after a good move from Emi Buendia.
They continued to create half-chances, with Phillipe Coutinho curling a looping effort on to the roof of the net midway through the second half. But once they fell behind the opportunities dried up.
Despite coming into this fixture as one of three teams to have scored in every home game this season, Villa failed to find a leveller and stay 12th in the table.
"We just need to keep believing in ourselves and stick together," said Gerrard.
"We need to have more quality in the final third - that was clear today. We've only had one shot on target. That's not good enough at home."
Villa face Brighton next Saturday, while Watford will host Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
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