Amazing. Impossible. Incredible. They were the three adjectives Quique Sanchez Flores used when asked if he’d seen Troy Deeney’s iconic goal against Leicester City.

Every Hornets fan knows the story. But there is no harm in repeating it. It was the 2013 play-off semi-final second leg. Watford and Leicester are tied at 2-2 on aggregate. Extra time is looming.

Then Anthony Knockaert, deep into second half stoppage time, dives under a challenge from Marco Cassetti. The Foxes were awarded a penalty.

Knockaert opted to take it. Had he scored Leicester were going to Wembley. What unfolded was pure theatre. Almunia saved the winger’s spot kick and his follow up.

Watford cleared. Ikechi Anya controlled, sprinted up field and passed to Fernando Forestieri.

He crossed deep for Jonathan Hogg who headed the ball down to Deeney. There was no hesitation from the Hornets striker. He thumped the ball into the net. Pandemonium ensued.

“I saw it…it’s amazing,” Flores said. “After that experience it is difficult to separate your emotions.

"If we keep in the Premier League this season maybe we will celebrate at the same level.

"It was impossible. Incredible. Everyone’s feelings changed in 30 seconds.”

It is a moment Watford supporters will have replayed over and over again (and can do in the video below).

A little under three years on, however, and everything has changed for the two clubs.

Both are now in the Premier League. Both were tipped for relegation at the start of the campaign. But both have thrived.

Leicester visit Vicarage Road tomorrow top of the table. It’s an astonishing achievement. But can they win the Premier League?

“Why not? They are doing something really special,” Flores said. 

"They are playing at a really good level. The tools of Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, United and City normal means they are top.

“But Leicester being top isn’t by accident. After 28 matches it was impossible to imagine this was a possibility.”

Watford look set to be without Jose Manuel Jurado, Craig Cathcart, Joel Ekstrand and Tommie Hoban due to injury tomorrow.

It will mean Sebastian Prödl and Miguel Britos line up at the heart of Watford’s defence for only the third time.

The duo were impressive against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday night but it was very different on their first outing together, a 3-0 loss at Southampton.

“Prödl was coming back from an injury [against Southampton],” Flores explained. “He’d been out for a long time and was trying to get fit.

“The condition of the team against Southampton was really bad. It was our worst performance of the season.

“Prödl looked very good against United because the rest of the team did too. It isn’t just about one player.”

Flores prides himself on the sides he has managed having a strong defence.

He knows Watford will always have a chance of winning if they are miserly at the back.

He said “The balance (goal difference) is the most important thing. If it is minus 10, 15 or 20 that isn’t a good sign.

“If it is zero, one, two, three or four you will reach your objective. We don’t score a lot but we create attempts. And we haven’t conceded a lot.”

Flores added: “We are in a period where everyone wants to reach it (40 points) as soon as possible. So we have to manage the feelings of the players.

“I don’t want them to be in a hurry or nervous. I think they look confident in matches. In the end we will get there.”