Javi Gracia says finishing the season strongly will provide the perfect foundation for making a bright start to the 2018/19 campaign.

Watford have been on a dismal run of late and go into the final four games of the season on the back of five winless matches.

That sequence has undermined the start made to life under Gracia which saw the Spaniard win on three of his first five outings in the Watford dugout.

Nonetheless they go into tomorrow’s meeting with Crystal Palace with a nine-point cushion on the relegation zone and are almost certain to stay up.

Gracia insists, though, that finishing the season in a positive manner is key to Watford's ambitions next term and views the Eagles visit as a vital encounter.

"I prefer to finish the season well because I think that is the first step to do well next season," Gracia said.

"In this moment, it is the most important thing to prepare every game well and try and get all the points you are able to get.

"It is always a big challenge and you never know where you are going to get the next points, so the next four games are important, and for Palace as well.

"Everyone is fighting at the moment to get the points."

Watford's drop in form has born remarkable similarities to the ones witnessed under both Walter Mazzarri and Quique Sanchez Flores in each of the last two seasons.

They have taken just one point since the 1-0 success over West Brom which took them to within touching distance of safety in early March.

Gracia refuses to dwell on the past and refutes to concept that Watford's players have let their eye off the ball since reaching relative safety.

"I do not know what happened in other seasons," he said.

"We can speak about this season and I try to improve the team and to try and improve the situation we are in.

"The most important thing is to work and to improve.

"The players are focused on the next game because they know it is vital for us. They have a strong mentality and I am sure they will get a good result and give a good performance in the next game."