Watford can build on their performance against Manchester City despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to the Premier League leaders, says Ben Foster.

The Hornets almost forced a late leveller after Abdoulaye Doucoure’s scrappy strike gave them hope of a comeback with five minutes to play at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night.

While City were the better side as Watford suffered a fifth game on the spin without a win, the home side’s performance was one full of commitment and Foster believes it can be the catalyst for improved fortunes.

“We had a great chance in the first-half, Edersdon has made a save. Then in the second half we conceded early on and you’ve probably got 40 minutes odd minutes to go,” Foster said.

“There are a lot of teams that would have probably lost by five or six because City are that good. We kept going and that is what we will take from it.

“We will take that into the next few games now knowing we can compete with these sorts of teams and this level.

“I am proud of the team to be honest with you. I think when you play against City it is always very easy to go a couple behind and let the floodgates open. We got the goal towards the end and kept them clinging on for it.”

Foster played as big a role as anyone in the Watford side in keeping City at bay for large parts of the evening, denying Leroy Sane and twice stopping Riyad Mahrez finding the net.

The summer signing was full of praise for City's quality and says it is an inevitability opposition keepers will play a key role against a side with such firepower.

Foster said: "It is Man City, you know it is going to be a tough match and you know you are going to be busy as a goalkeeper. That is always the case with them.

"You have got to be on your toes. They're so relentless, so quick, high pressure all and the pitch and it is a pleasure to watch them at times. It is not nice to play against them but it's a pleasure to watch them."