WATFORD manager Aidy Boothroyd was in a relaxed but focused mood as he prepared his troops for one of the biggest weeks of the season at the club's London Colney training ground.

Much like Hornets supporters everywhere, everyone in the Watford camp were watching results trickling in with added interest on Saturday afternoon - a weekend without a game of our own due to Barnsley's continued heroics in the FA Cup.

With Bristol City missing the opportunity to go six points clear at the top of the league, after drawing with Ian Holloway's struggling Leicester City, the game with the Robins starts an all-important week for the Golden Boys.

Stoke's failure to win at home, meant they crept just a point above the Hertfordshire side - and the Potters are now three games without a win.

Tuesday's fixture with Gary Johnson's Bristol City will see the pressure at the top of the league reach boiling point, but the Watford manager feels that the experience within the squad will serve his troops well.

The Yorkshireman said: "We've got ourselves to a position where we're now third in the table. It's a very, very tight league and that increases the expectancy on some and it makes other people calmer.

"I've always believed at this stage of the season that you get to see people like oranges - the tighter you squeeze them some of them tend to capitulate. Thankfully we've been here before in high pressure situations and I think that will stand us in good stead."

He may well have a point. Looking around the squad and backroom staff, people have been there before and done it. Messer's Henderson, Stewart, Doyley and DeMerit did so with the 'Orns that triumphed on that glorious day in March 2006. Nathan Ellington has won promotion before with Wigan, Leigh Bromby with Sheffield United, Mat Sadler with Birmingham, Damien Francis with Norwich - the list goes on.

And that doesn't included the knowledge that the likes of veteran Mart Poom has, or that Matt Jackson has or indeed what Boothroyd's backroom staff like Martin Hunter or Malky Mackay can pass on.

A weekend off before a big week can work either way according to the gaffer, however it does allow his men more time to prepare and also the gives the medical team space to clear up any niggling injuries.

Fortunately the Hornets look to be in good shape injury wise. Mat Sadler's 'tweaked' hamstring that forced his early exit against Norwich was more of a precaution, meaning the Brummie is fit to play.

Fitness issues still surround the midfield pair of Gareth Williams and Francis and neither will be in contention for the test in Bristol. At the back, the manager still has club captain
DeMerit itching to get back involved from the start, after his recent groin injury.     

Four draws on the spin has however been frustrating for the boss. In the scheme of things, draws away at two of the teams challenging for the play offs (Charlton and Burnley) is no bad thing, but its no secret the manager was not happy with giving a late goal away at Turf Moor and even more recently surrendering a lead at home to a mid-table Norwich side.

Boothroyd isn't going to make excuses and knows that the fate of his side lays in his and the hands of his squad.

He added: "I've never known a game like the Preston one; statistically it's harder with the stats we have not to score. Against Burnley we didn't play particularly well in stages, but played well enough to win. At 2-1 up with 81 minutes gone it should have been game over.

"Then the other night [Norwich] we could have been out of sight by half time and I don't say that lightly.

"But if you don't take your chances and if you don't defend correctly there's always a chance that someone like Jamie Cureton will whack it in from 25 yards, he's that type of player.

"We only have ourselves to pat on the back or blame.  We take responsibility, what we are becoming is difficult to beat again and that's what you want when you come to the last 10 games.

"Because we have got players who will score goals, we've talked in detail about it. I'm delighted to say that the players had a meeting on their own after the Norwich game, we know where we're going and what we're doing. I think we're in a strong position."

The responsibility felt by the men who pull on the jersey shouldn't be underestimated.

At Vicarage Road it isn't shirked or dodged - that's the message that comes from the top. Watford's own supporters will say they're well paid professionals and they have a duty to perform for Watford and take responsibility. Rightly so - and the squad know their future is in their hands - it's up to them to make sure they don't let it slip or drift away from them.

Boothroyd commented: "Everybody at Watford's accountable. We set that up from day one - you're expected to do certain things and fulfill certain criteria, if you fall below those standards you've got a good chance of coming out of the team and somebeody else coming in.

"I'm delighted to say that the players are now leading that, we want to win every single game and we all know that we've got the talent; technically, tactically and physically, and we've got the experience to go and win games. We're a little bit disappointed that we didn't do that against Norwich."

As for Bristol City they're riding a crest of a wave at the moment and clearly haven't lost their momentum from their promotion winning success last campaign. A confident side that has only lost two at home all season long, the Hornets will need to bring their best away form with them once more.

So what does Watford's boss think of the opposition and of his equivalent number at City?

"I think Gary's done a great job down there. I remember back in August when we beat Southampton and he was at the game doing Sky coverage.

"He came in the press conference and waited right until the end, listened to what I had to say and then said 'Do you think Bristol City will be a threat this year?' and I said to him, word for word, 'Bristol City are as big a threat as everybody else' and everybody laughed and Gary laughed.

"I have a great deal of respect for him because he's turned that club around. There had been people there who had made it what it was and they'd had a lot of people come through the youth policy.

"Then Gary's comes in, he does things his own way and has changed things round. The team had a bad start under his tenure but he managed to turn it around and get promotion, obviously he's pushing again. The momentum is with them and he's bought wisely, he's up there with the resources he's got for manager of the year in my opinion."
 
Tuesday night is only part one, with Stoke coming to Vicarage Road on Saturday it will ensure a big week for everyone connected with the club. Hold on tight. 

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