We know we are still climbing back
Burnley travel to Vicarage Road tomorrow to take on a Watford team who will be remembering a former manager in Graham Taylor while celebrating the first anniversary of current manager who was appointed on 21st January last year following the sacking of Marco Silva, the current Everton manager.
Speaking today, Gracia said he thought the planned tribute to Taylor, who passed away two years ago last Saturday, will inspire his players. “I am looking forward to seeing that display,” Gracia said of the plans for all fans to wave their scarves. “I would like to enjoy the moment and celebrate the memories of Graham Taylor. It will be good for the team to see everyone, the fans, the players, the club, together, as together we are stronger.”
“They scored from a corner kick to equalise but we scored good goals from Will (Hughes) and Troy (Deeney). It was an important moment because it helped us win more games away. It was the moment we were able to win points away from home. It was an important step for our confidence.”
But of our win there last season, he added: “I remember the game well. We started winning, but we know the way they play and you have to pay attention. It was a very good lesson for us to know that we have to be ready in all the games.
“I am sure it will be very demanding (tomorrow). It will be a very strong and tough game because they always compete very well. it will be demanding as they play the long ball many times, with lots of challenges, lots of second balls and you always need to be ready for this. They compete always very well, nothing unfair and very demanding. They try to win the games in the same way we do.”
Sean Dyche is certainly happier than he was just over three weeks ago after the Everton game. He’s since seen four wins, three of them in the league, and he said at his press conference yesterday: “The feel good factor in the squad has stayed pretty strong during an up and down season, but of course wins enhance it.
“At the end of the day you are a professional and you work all week to get that win and play your part in it. I’ve been really pleased with that mentality, especially after the demands we’ve had, through injuries or suspensions. Everyone has been focused on doing whatever they have to get a result and the wins have brought a bigger clarity.”
He added: “I said a few months ago that you are never as far away as you think. In the early part of the season we didn’t do enough to get more than we got. Recently, we have, and statistically all the performances have come together to show we’ve earned our rewards.
“In a tight game now we have the resilience, energy and demand to give us the platform to pick up points. Fulham was a classic example of that, but we are not taking anything for granted.”
It’s another return to his former club. He said of them: “Watford have been up and down at times, but they are still a good side who can also be a potent one. They fact they are a little bit like that is probably similar to everyone outside the top six. Most can have a great performance and win followed by a below par performance and a defeat. It’s how many times you can put it together to get those points on the board.
“As I said, we are beginning to get back to that level of consistent performance now and that’s all you can hope for. We know we are still climbing back to what we want to be, but it has to continue.”
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