Watford

Watford boss Roy Hodgson speaking to BBC MOTD: "It was a very good result for us, it was a very good win.

"We worked hard, and with a 1-0 lead to defend it’s so important for the future that you do defend it. [It's important] The feeling of getting that victory rather than the dagger-in-the-heart of conceding a late goal.

"I must be perfectly honest, I don’t think [Ismaili Sarr and Emmanuel Dennis] were at their scintillating best. But it was nice to see them combine for the goal.

"It’s nice to know we do have that in us. There were a few goal chances today.

"There’s such a long way to go. The danger is now that we think we’ve cracked it just because we’ve come to Villa and won.

"It isn’t [finished], the next two games will be vitally important as well.

"We’re going to need strong performances. People prepared to track back more than they’re used to doing. Put in a tackle they’re not used to doing.

"That’s what we’ve got to do. We’ll need to do it because we need the points. We’re quite divorced from the teams above us."

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Image source, BBC Sport

It’s one change for Aston Villa from their 1-0 loss to Newcastle last time out.

Steve Gerrard brings in forward Danny Ings with Ollie Watkins dropping to the bench.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Chambers, Mings, Digne, McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey, Buendia, Ings, Coutinho.

Subs: Olsen, Sanson, Watkins, Young, Hause, Bailey, Chukwuemeka, Chrisene, Iroegbunam.

Image source, BBC Sport

Roy Hodgson makes two changes to the Watford team who were beaten by Brighton last week.

Ismaili Sarr starts for the first time since winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.

Midfielder Imran Louza also comes in with Juraj Kucka out of the squad and Edo Kayembe dropping to the bench.

Watford XI: Foster, Femenia, Cathcart, Samir, Kamara, Sarr, Louza, Sissoko, Cleverley, King, Dennis.

Subs: Bachmann, Ngakia, Ekong, Masina, Sema, Kabasele, Kalu, Hernández, Kayembe.

Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio

Nobody is giving Watford much of a chance in their match at Aston Villa. It's been such a long time since the Hornets won a game that the prospect of coming up against Philippe Coutinho and co isn't installing too much confidence in Watford supporters.

The manager Roy Hodgson says his players and staff need to ignore 'the noise' of those on the outside who doubt them and believe they are down and out. In one sense it takes a little pressure off them if expectation is low.

But in reality the players must find a way of getting out of the losing habit. It's 11 Premier League games without a win now - nine of those defeats. That must be hard to take for the players.

Hodgson is trying to work out which of them have the mental strength to reverse this horrible run. He admitted to me today that he has a better idea but that three games and nearly four weeks working with them isn't quite long enough to properly judge.

His players must find an inner strength to believe they can win games and that they can get out of the relegation zone - and then go and execute that on the pitch.

Hodgson knew this job wasn't going to be easy. And he's probably realising just how difficult it actually is.

Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard has no fresh fitness concerns among his squad but said after the insipid defeat at Newcastle it would be "reasonable to expect" changes to the side.

Ezri Konsa must complete a two-match ban, while Bertrand Traore remains out with a hamstring strain.

Watford manager Roy Hodgson will assess the fitness of two players but wouldn't disclose their names.

There could be a first club start in three months for winger Ismaila Sarr.

Midfielder Peter Etebo, who tore a thigh muscle in September, is back in full training.

Who makes your Villa starting XI?

Does Sarr take a place in your Hornets line-up?

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard says he has "nothing but admiration" for Watford boss Roy Hodgson.

Hodgson has managed Steven Gerrard on two separate occasions - once with Liverpool and once with England, though neither stints were particularly successful.

But, speaking before their sides meet in the Premier League this weekend, Gerrard said: “I know Roy better than most. He’s a joy to work with, he’s a fair man, he’s an honest man.

"He’s very diligent in terms of his organisation and he puts real clarity on how he wants his team to play.

"I really enjoyed my time with him at Liverpool, even though it was short and more so with England. I’ve got nothing but admiration and respect for him.

"If I can have a small percentage of what he’s achieved in the game or the longevity he’s achieved in the game, that will be very satisfying for me.

"He’s someone who I look up to immensely."

Watford boss Roy Hodgson has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League match against Aston Villa.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On the disruption caused by storm Eunice, Hodgson said: "The idea of taking the players onto a field today is totally out of the question. As far as a journey is concerned, we were planning to leave mid-afternoon, we might have to put that back a couple of hours."

• Two members of the squad will have fitness tests before traveling to the Midlands.

• On long-term injuries, Peter Etebo returned to full training this week and Nicolas Nkoulou is hoping to be back with the Hornets squad within the next couple of weeks.

• Hodgson described Saturday's opponents Aston Villa as a "potent attacking force" and added: "They've been a good team for a long while."

• On Villa manager Steven Gerrard, he said: "He has shown that he has the makings of a really, really top manager and coach in the future."