Craig Dawson thinks Watford's big characters will be vital to keeping them in the Premier League come the end of the season.

The former West Brom defender told the club website that the club are increasingly confident of finding that all-important first win, which they hope will come tomorrow night away at Norwich City.

“Everyone’s working really hard and we’re not far away from that win, so we need to keep on working hard,” he said.

“The win will come and that will build confidence, and hopefully we can do that this weekend.

“We’ve had a few games where certain decisions have not quite gone for us. That’s football. It’s important we stay focused and working hard and those decisions will turn for us and the win will come as well.

“It’s been difficult, but we’ve got some pretty big characters in the squad trying to keep us all together and everyone’s working hard as a team. I think everyone’s working well, we just haven’t had that win. It has not happened yet, but it will do soon.”

Dawson also spoke of the influence of head coach Quique Sanchez Flores and said his positivity was filtering through into the squad, who believe they have the right man at the helm to turn things around.

The 29-year-old knows Friday evening's match will be difficult, but said the atmosphere at the club is still upbeat.

“He’s worked very hard, he’s come in with bags of energy and bags of confidence,” Dawson said of Sanchez Flores.

“I think that’s slowly getting into the players and I think training has been very good. I think you can see with the performances that we’re not a million miles away. Once we do get that win, the confidence raises and everyone’s on their game.

“When he walks into a room you know he’s there smiling away. He enjoys his work and it’s moving into the players, everyone’s enjoying their work and working hard. The atmosphere around the place is very good to say we haven’t had that win. Once that win comes, it can only lift the mood in the camp.

“Obviously it is going to be a tough game. We know that and we’ve prepared well for the game and hopefully we can get the result. We know it’s going to be a fight we’re prepared for.”