Abdoulaye Doucoure hailed Watford’s best performance of the season after they eased to a deserved 2-0 win over West Ham United.

Goals from Will Hughes and Richarlison proved the difference against the Hammers as David Moyes’ tenure got off to a losing start at Vicarage Road.

Having lost three games on the spin prior to the international break, Doucoure was delighted to have helped Watford to their first points since mid-October.

“Today we wanted to win because we lost three games in a row and, so you want to change this,” Doucoure said.

“Today I think we played the best game of the season. We controlled the game since the start and scored.”

The victory, which leaves Watford eighth in the Premier League came at the end of a week in which Marco Silva had been the subject of a job offer from Watford.

Doucoure says the Hornets squad have had little insight into whether Silva wants to make a move to Merseyside and says the Portuguese boss had maintained his work ethic.

“I saw in the last few days that the manager could go. The manager was focused on the training and he gave everything, so I think he will stay with us and it is not a problem for the players,” he said.

“No he never talks about the situation with the players and is just focused on the team and what we can do to improve. We don’t talk about these situations.”

Hughes took the plaudits from a productive day for Silva’s side as he opened the scoring with a first time effort and laid on Watford’s second to seal the game.

The summer signing has had to be patient this season but has now started Watford’s last two matches and impressed in both showings.

Doucoure was pleased for this teammate and praised the work ethic which has allowed him to battle his way into the starting XI.

He said: “Will had a difficult start because he didn’t play, but he deserved today because he has worked a lot on the training pitch.

“Today he showed his class and was a very good player and I love to play with him. I hope he can help the team again.

“He did not play in the beginning and today he played very well. He played well at Everton as well and he is a good guy so I am happy for him and happy he scored today.”