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Cardiff boss Malky Mackay wants Watford to secure promotion to the Premier League with the former Hornets player and manager admitting the club is still "very close to my heart".

Mackay spent six years at Vicarage Road as a player, coach and manager; racking up 52 appearances and achieving promotion as a player before joining the coaching staff and then taking over as manager for two seasons.

The former centre half moved across the border to Cardiff City in June 2011 but still holds a strong affection for the Golden Boys and the area.

"I’m a big supporter of Watford trying to get there [Premier League] as well," Mackay said after the two sides played out a 0-0 draw on Saturday evening.

"I said that to Gianfranco at the end. There are six games left until the end – it’s going to be tough but I was the manager at Watford, I was a player at Watford and now I’m the manager at Cardiff.

"I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to work out what I would like."

The Scot continued: "Watford is a club that’s very close to my heart, I’ve got fond memories of this football club and I was very honoured to be the manager of the football club."

Mackay also praised the Watford fans who he described as "good people" who give great support to their team.

"The local community are really good people, there are good people who come and watch this football club," he said.

"The Rookery is a fantastic place to be and the noise that happens in there when the home team are winning and scoring goals - thankfully we didn’t hear all of that happen today - but they put some great backing noise behind their team."

The goalless draw between the sides means Cardiff are now eight points clear of third-placed Watford with a game in hand.

Despite the lack of goals Mackay paid tribute to both sets of supporters and the way the game was played, insisting he was proud to be involved in the contest.

He said: "For our fans that came here today who paid their money and came the distance to come here and support their team and for my players to come here and play the way they did (was great to see) - I notice it’s a lovely surface and I never said that in my day when I was here.

"It was on television tonight, it was a top of the table clash, a huge, huge attendance - I don’t know what it was - two good teams at the top end of the table trying to play and entertain with two sets of fans who give no trouble at all.

"We’re family club of the year for the second time in three years and Watford could win community club every year I think, so all in all I was really proud of bringing my team back here and being involved in that today."