Hornets stung by Seville

Watford head coach Quique Flores remained upbeat despite seeing his side lose 1-0 to Europa League champions Seville on Friday nigh A solitary goal from winger Vitolo gave the visitors the win. Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney came closest for the Hornets. Flores said: “I don’t like the result, but we played against an amazing opponent. They have a lot of tools, they can play short and they can play long. They have a lot of players with quality and skills, and it was like a big exam for us. “Sometimes we had to defend, sometimes we had to make high pressure with good results. In the second half we played better than the first half. “It’s the kind of level we are going to find in the Premier League, the competition was very hard, but I am happy with the players. “Like me, they don’t like to lose, but you know when the test was good or when it was bad, and for me I think it was good. Of course, we are now thinking about how to improve in the next game.” It was a first outing at Vicarage Road for Flores, and the ex-Atletico Madrid boss was impressed with the backing shown by the near 9,000-strong crowd. “I am pleased with the atmosphere in the stadium, and I am pleased with the support of the fans,” he said. “The only thing we didn’t get is the result, but we are improving with all areas and situations of play, and for us it is very important. “We are working very hard for the fans. We are working every day very hard to give them something special every time we go to play on the pitch.”