Slavisa Jokanovic refused to be drawn on whether he was confident Watford would win the Championship after returning to the top of the table today but insisted he is enjoying the pressure of fighting for automatic promotion.

The Hornets went top of the Championship following their 1-0 victory over Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday scored an injury-time equaliser at Bournemouth.

The Golden Boys are top by a point, with Bournemouth’s goal difference, which is 15 better off than Middlesbrough’s, ensuring they occupy the second automatic spot.

Jokanovic was asked if he was confident the Golden Boys would win their final two games to secure the title but stuck to usual mantra of only taking it one game at a time.

Jokanovic said: “I never speak about two games. I only speak about one game at a time. The successful week is behind us. We have to clear our minds, rest our bodies and be ready to play against Brighton. This is what is in our control.

“My players are playing with confidence and I believe the supporters are confident and believe we can make an important step and I’m sure it will be similar at Brighton and we must try to make a good performance and win the game.”

With only three points separating the top four clubs in the Championship, it is an anxious time for supporters.

So is Jokanovic nervous?

“It is part of the job; I have been nervous all my life,” Jokanovic said, explaining: “I have played many games; I have won many games and lost many games. I understand everything depends on the results but I have to be happy with the job I am doing, the job my staff are doing and this game.

“We are all under pressure but I must be happy that we are under this pressure.”

Watford’s fans have been noticeably more vocal in recent weeks and whilst they were quiet at times this afternoon, they stepped it up a notch pre-match and in the closing stages.

Jokanovic said: “It (the fans’ support) is nice news for us. We are fighting and when you start playing football or become a coach, you believe you are going to arrive in this kind of situation.

“The fans are pushing us towards a successful finish for the season. It is a great moment for them and a great moment for us.

“The fans are fighting from the stands, my team are fighting on the field and the staff and people of the club are fighting off the field.

“This is not the first time the fans have helped us and pushed us – at home and away. I’m sure many supporters will travel to Brighton and I don’t expect anything other than [the fans pushing the team forward] because they are always making an impression on games.”

Watford dominated for large spells of today’s game but could only manage one goal against Gary Rowett’s men.

Jokanovic said: “This competition is very tough and complicated and we found the same today. I must be happy with our performance, I must be proud with how we played in the first half and in the second half we made many chances.

“After we scored the goal we had more control and my team interpreted very well how we must finish the game and don’t make mistakes and at the end I believe we deserved the three points.”

Jokanovic played a crucial role in Watford’s win today and deserves his share of the credit. The Hornets struggled to break down City early into the second half so the head coach was decisive and made a double change, and altered the formation to 3-5-2, just nine minutes after the restart.

It paid off a minute later as substitute Ikechi Anya created the deciding goal for Craig Cathcart, who volleyed in the Scotland winger’s cross in acrobatic style.

Watford Observer:

Jokanovic explained: “I expected we were going to find more space between the lines [if I made the alterations early into the second half]. They were dropping back so much and we weren’t finding the last pass or a clear situation for us. We decided to open the pitch with players in wide positions and from one of these situations we scored the goal.

“We play a different way many times and my team is prepared for understanding and interpreting [the different formations]. It’s not the first time we’ve played a different structure and today I believe we played a complete and good game under some pressure but we must enjoy this kind of pressure and this opportunity in front of us.”

When Watford finished the game it appeared they would be in second position as Bournemouth were leading Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 but a penalty in the fifth minute of injury-time ensured a share of the spoils and a return to the top of the table for Watford.

Jokanovic was following events at Bournemouth after the final whistle at Vicarage Road and said: “I wasn’t watching the game but I had the information. This is the Championship; many late goals and complications. No teams – even those with nothing to play for – arrives with their hands up and surrendering the battle. We had a similar situation today against Birmingham and they gave us difficulty.”

You can ready Rowett's comments here and a match report is here.