Having barely had sight of a decent cross in the first 90 minutes on Saturday, striker Mileta Rajovic wasn’t going to waste the opportunity when Yaser Asprilla sent a gilt-edged ball over at the start of stoppage time.

The big Dane got himself between two Birmingham defenders and let his head do the rest to mark his first full start at Vicarage Road with the opening goal.

“I saw the cross come and I knew I just had to win the duel,” he said.

“I felt that I connected with it well and I was quick to turn around to see it curve into the goal, so it was a good feeling.

“It was fantastic to celebrate with the supporters. We could feel the energy throughout the whole game even though we were struggling in some periods, so it was nice to have them behind us the whole time.”

After not scoring and winning at home since the opening day, the dramatic victory will, Rajovic feels, be a catalyst to more of the same.

“For me personally, and for the whole team, this result will be a kick-start,” he said.

“Today was all about keeping going, being patient, and knowing if we did that the goal would come.

“Personally, I’m always waiting for my chance and my opportunity to get the goal. I know I just have to get myself into the box and be available. When the cross comes in, I just have to take my chance

“If we keep performing then we will score goals and win games.”

• It was a mere 9,832 days between Watford goals for members of the Andrews family. Dad Wayne last netted for the club on October 19, 1996, and on Saturday his son Ryan scored the second and his first for the club.

“Getting that goal – I don’t really know how to explain it right now. There’s a lot of emotions running through my head,” said Andrews junior.

“In the first few games this season I’ve had a lot of chances in that same position, so I knew as soon as I got the ball I wanted to put my foot through it.

“In the other games I’ve been thinking about it too much, but even though it got a deflection it still went into the back of the net. That’s all that mattered to me. It’s a surreal feeling and I can’t even put it into words.

“I just celebrated. The celebration was even better because it was so late on in the game. Coming through the Academy and starting at the Under-9s, it’s everyone’s dream to play professionally so to get my first professional goal is a bonus.

“I wouldn’t have imagined this. When I was younger, growing up and coming through the Academy there were times when I thought I might get released, but I was kept on.

“Coming through and making my debut against Reading was a surreal feeling, then it was just about keeping it up.

“Everyone has been really important in this journey. Of course, my family - my mum has been there through everything and my dad on the football side as well. My two sisters and everyone else have been really supportive. My family is a huge inspiration for me and it gives me the boost to play how I play.”

Andrews also paid tribute to the coaching staff at the club.

“Last season with the Under-21s I had Omer Riza and Richard Shaw as my coaches and they always had belief in me,” he said.

“If I kept putting in the work, then I knew I would get this opportunity. I have to also thank Valérien, the manager, and all the backroom staff for giving me the chance to play.”

• The man that Andrews replaced on Saturday, Jeremy Ngakia, was delighted his fellow defender scored the second goal in the win over Birmingham.

“It was brilliant to see him get his first goal. He is a young player and he’s brilliant,” said Ngakia.

“He’s a close friend of mine so I’m really happy for him. Today is a great day for him, and for him to get the second goal is brilliant.”

Ngakia said it took a while for the Hornets to impress themselves on the game.

“It was tough today, especially at first. Once the team got into the flow and got confidence in the game, we managed to control it more and get more attacks and shots on goal.

“We struggled at the start, but once we got into our flow we were brilliant, I thought. We took our chances well. It took a while to get those good chances, but we got the job done and the three points.

“The manager asked for us to be more aggressive, especially on the counter-press.

“We get into good positions a lot and sometimes it breaks down, so it’s about getting the ball back and keeping the pressure on. The manager tried to get that into our heads and I think we did that well, especially in the second half.”