Like so many people, Watford head coach Slaven Bilic highlighted the performance of Joao Pedro after the 4-0 win against Luton.

There was not a bad display in the entire Watford squad, but the Brazilian undoubtedly caught the eye as the Hatters never found a way to stop him and he terrorised them.

“I don’t mind praising individual performances even though the team comes first, and Pedro was excellent,” said Bilic.

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“He worked hard and he was crucial in how we stopped them playing.

“Because they press we wanted to come out from the back playing the ball, which is risky. But we wanted to play through Joao or through Davis, even when they have a player behind them.

“Both Pedro and Davis were great, but Pedro was wow. I said to my staff that still we don’t really know him, but for such a young kid to have that kind of ability, that composure and that special something about him is amazing.

“This was the first game that he’s started since I came here, so the first game he’s started since the international break. It was a top, top performance.”

Keinan Davis also had the Luton defence back-pedalling with some powerful runs into their box, but it his was ability to occupy defenders and hold the  ball up that was pivotal to the way Watford played.

“After the game I said to Davis that this is what we want from you,” said Bilic.

“It can’t be the centre backs who create the impulse. They can do that in the dressing room before the game, but on the pitch during the game everything stems from the forwards.

“Davis was great today and now we want him to be that great every week.”

The striker had to be substituted in the second half, and Bilic admitted he had actually been a doubtful starter.

“He was actually a question mark. If the game was yesterday I’m not sure he would have played but he tested himself this morning and he said he was okay.

“The injury is something in his hip, and hopefully we’ll have more idea after we assess him and also Hamza.”

Bilic also singled out skipper Craig Cathcart for praise.

“With respect to every player today, you can see what difference a captain can make,” he said.

“Cathcart showed today what he means to us. The way he played today, and against Norwich – he was like a professor.”