Javi Gracia expects Watford’s fans to get behind their team on Saturday against Everton but says he will respect the opinions of all supporters with former boss Marco Silva likely to receive a backlash on his return to Vicarage Road.

Supporters brandished rubber snakes at Goodison Park aimed at Silva in December's 2-2 draw following his acrimonious departure last season.

The Portugese did little to hide his desire to join Everton during the season after their approach and he was sacked by Watford after a poor set of results last January.

Silva makes his first return to Vicarage Road this weekend under severe pressure from Everton supporters after a run of seven defeats in 10 Premier League games and an FA Cup exit at Championship side Millwall last month.

The Everton boss looks certain to receive a hostile reception from Watford fans but Gracia insists it has been business as usual for his side’s preparation as they target their first home win since beating Cardiff in the middle of December.

When asked what type of reaction he expected Silva to receive, Gracia said: “I don’t know. I think there will be different opinions and all of them are respectable. I don’t know.

“I expect the supporters to back us as they usually do. It is the best thing for us to feel the support. We feel it in all the games and I think this game will be no different.”

Gracia does not believe Silva’s return will be a distraction for his players and insists the focus has been the same as usual.

He said: “It is nothing different than other games. We are concentrated on the game with me concentrated on the game.

“When we prepare the games we are not thinking about the coaches. We are thinking about the shape, the players, how we can defend, how we can attack, not about the coaches.”