IN his time at the Vic, Hornets' boss Aidy Boothroyd has become something of a Churchillian-like figure, unafraid to rally the troops with his words and actions, and always leading from the front.

And ahead of his biggest challenge to date, the manager has been back at it, surmising his time in Hertfordshire and looking forward to another 'stakes-are-high' semi-final with a Premiership prize resting on the outcome.

He's been here before of course, when Watford were in Hull's pressure-filled position of having finished third, within touching distance of the top two. That year the Hornets became only the fourth side, having ended the season in that spot, to convert their chance into a play-off final win.

So, speaking with no considerable inexperience of these events, Boothroyd was once again banging the drum ahead of, hopefully, a repeat of the feat of two terms ago. It was another all-important key note speech to the supporters gathered en-masse at The Grove for the club's End of Season Awards earlier this week.

"This is my fourth awards night and my third speech. At the first we were about to go into the play-offs after avoiding relegation the previous season, Gladiator was the theme and I'd been to my first and only gay wedding that season!

"The second was about promotion, relegation, a record sale for a player and an FA Cup semi- final, and then tonight we've come full circle and we're here again with another play-off semi-final. Entering in to what will be a new chapter for the club.

"If a lot happened in years one, two and three, then it's nothing compared to this season. And it's not over. This year I think it's about the p's - privilege, pressure and progress.

Aidy encourages the troops

"So what about this third speech and the progress the club has made? We've got some very, very professional people that work behind the team and they don't get the mention that they deserve and they've been outstanding this year.

"There's the Harefield Academy and the great work that goes on there from David Dodds, Mark Warburton and Nick Cox and that's not about your next generation but the generation beyond that - that's the real future going on there and it's really exciting.

"And then the next generation of players - Theo Robinson, Scott Loach, Lionel Ainsworth, Jordan Parkes, Aidy Mariappa, Tamas Priskin, Cedric Avinel, Liam Henderson, Dale Bennett, Lewis Young, John-Joe and of course Al Bangura.

"You listen to those names and realise they are all young boys, just starting really and that's the level of players who are pushing the first team now.

"We've had a turnout of players this year, Jobi [McAnuff] and Nathan [Ellington] , Adam Johnson, John Eustace, Leigh Bromby and Mat Sadler all coming in to the club to name but a few.

"Marlon King and Gavin Mahon have left, which I think is a significant thing because it shows that change is occurring which is good, that is progress which you have to have.

"So, privilege and pressure. People think back to 2005 when we avoided relegation by two points. We got 52 points back then which would have seen you relegated this year.

"You have different challenges, and people think that it's all hard luck and bad things happen when you're down that end of the table, but there are different pressures that come when you're at the top.

"We've had expectations that we've never had before and I've never had before. And after relegation I was very, very proud as a manager with how the players and staff responded to what is a very difficult thing, and let's face it, losing a lot more than we won - and that was hard.

"You can see how hard it is this year by looking at how Derby have done, it isn't easy to go and perform at that level. But we did it and we bounced-back well. We started too well almost, we won a lot of games early on, and then obviously Watford were going to run away with it and win the title - I didn't think that we were going to run away with anything.

Aidy appeals... the boss gets animated

"As the season has gone on the pressure has grown, and we've had a little bit of adversity to say the least, particularly at home where you come, pay your money and expect to win and expect to see your team entertain you and we haven't always done that.

"But imagine being at Leicester City's end of season dinner, and I'm not having a go at them, or at Sheffield United's, Charlton, Leeds or Luton's - imagine being there.

"What I'm trying to say, and probably not doing very well, is that with success comes pressure and, ladies and gentlemen, pressure is a privilege and I am privileged to have the pressure and expectation placed on me and on these players.

"When you see what I see and your hear what I hear, and you get the feelings in your bones that I do - you know how good those players are, and they are good - and you know that, then you probably want to be in our camp right now. We're underdogs because our form is poor and that is okay but this is a different season right now and we've come full circle.

"But you must understand this, if ever any of you ever have success you're always going to attract cynics and I would ask you to be strong and stick together.

"This is a good club and we are punching above our weight, and yes, we wanted to be automatically promoted but our dream is still alive, very much so, we're not dead. Our season is far, far from over. I'll see you all on Sunday, so thank you."