Blackpool manager Ian Holloway heaped praise on Watford boss Sean Dyche after yesterday’s match – describing the job he has done as “stupendous”.

The Hornets’ seven-match unbeaten run ended with the 2-0 defeat to the Seasiders and despite Dyche’s men underperforming, Holloway insisted it was still a very difficult match for his side, who beat title chasing Southampton 3-0 last week.

Holloway said: “I think Sean has done an absolutely magnificent job here. The last manager wanted to leave and has joined Cardiff City and how well has Sean done? A rookie in his first job. I think he has done quite stupendous, so well done to him.”

He continued: “To be fair, with the run Watford are on - they had the best form in the division - and it was the toughest call ever.

“They had a spring in their stride and were pretty immense at the start and it was like the Watford of old under that sort of pressure, like when Graham Taylor was here.

“With Chris Iwelumo like that and Troy Deeney on form, we had to stand up and be counted and I am absolutely delighted that we managed to do that, every one of us. Even myself on the line had to say what I felt because you cannot be intimidated.

“It was the pace of how Watford did things that was totally different to last week. I am delighted with my players and Stephen Dobbie’s finish for the first goal was sublime in its skill and the way he finished it.

“Sometimes bits and pieces like that make the difference and I am glad he is on our side.”

Blackpool have a reputation for playing free-flowing football but that was not as evident against Watford.

When asked whether he changed his tactics for the match, Holloway replied: “No but I did try to outnumber them in midfield and played Angel Martinez instead of Barry Ferguson, who is used to these kind of games and we tried to outnumber them.

“We played footballers like Dobbie and at the end of the day; we wriggled into a bit of space, played a one-two around one of their midfield players and their centre half couldn’t come out and he scored.

“He scored because he is brilliant – nothing to do with what we did. You have to have that talent in your team somewhere along the line.”