Beppe Sannino described Watford’s display in their 4-2 win over Huddersfield Town as having feeling, passion and heart and the Hornets head coach felt his personality was reflected in his side's battling performance.

After goals from Troy Deeney and Almen Abdi had been cancelled out by equalisers from Harry Bunn and Murray Wallace, the Golden Boys were reduced to ten men.

Gabriel Tamas was dismissed in the 64th minute after receiving a second yellow card but Watford went in front for the third time moments later through a Keith Andrews header.

And, in second half stoppage time, Abdi struck his second of the contest to guarantee victory for the Hornets.

Sannino was delighted with the determined defending and battling qualities his side showed after they had been reduced to ten men.

He said: “I am very happy with the result because I saw a team made up of great men. It is the first time for me that I’ve seen this commitment and effort from my lads. I saw my face on the pitch today.

“I watched friends on the pitch help each other and that is fantastic. So I am very happy for them, the fans and also for you [the local journalists].”

Sannino continued: “I think my lads understood that if they are together and suffer together, then they can be a great team.

“They enjoyed it during the game and that is the most important point.”

Sannino was asked if it was Watford’s best performance during his reign in charge, he replied: “Not exactly. We’ve had good performances in the past. This performance today though, I feel as my performance. Not for the quality but for the feeling, passion and heart.”

Tamas' red card came after he had needlessly fouled Bunn on the touchline. However, Sannino said play should have been stopped prior to the red card as the ball had gone out of play.

He explained: “The linesman was already raising his flag and indicating the ball was out. So, in my opinion, the play was not active.

“So I feel sorry for Tamas but in this squad we have a large number of players, so I have a lot players to choose from.”

Deeney’s goal put him level in the Hornets' all time goal scoring list with Tommy Mooney on 63 goals.

The striker signed a new four-year contract with the Hornets on Wednesday and Sannino praised his captain.

He said: “Deeney is a great personality and is a great player. When he wasn’t captain, because he didn’t have the armband, in the changing room he was always acting as a captain.

“He will always be a symbol of Watford.”

Sannino was accidently felled in the opening period when he collided with Huddersfield midfielder Conor Coady.

He joked after the game: “”You see the Huddersfield player wanted to kill me off, but I got up very quickly.”