'Fantastic performance': Cleverley

Tom Cleverley celebrates on the final whistle as his Watford team beat Middlesbrough

Watford manager Tom Cleverley hailed his youthful back four as they secured a clean sheet, and three points, at Middlesbrough.

After the Hornets picked up just their second win in 11 games, Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio: "The average age of our whole back four was 21 so it was a big call from me on the team selection.

"Mattie Pollock has been outstanding for us this season but I felt on Tuesday night (v Leeds) he looked like it had caught up with him a little bit.

"It was a decision I didn't take lightly with it being his home-town game but Kevin (Keben) came in and did fantastic.

"We were challenged in the last 15-20 minutes but I don't want that to cover over what I thought was a fantastic performance. It was by no means backs to the wall, we really should have been out of sight going into that 75th minute.

"We didn't manage it as well as we could and the defence was called upon, but I'm really pleased with the clean sheet."