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Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores backs Ighalo and Deeney to return to form

Quique Sanchez Flores, Watford press conference

Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores is backing strikers Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney to rediscover their goal scoring form.

Flores' side host top-of-the-table Leicester live on Saturday Night Football, in what is set to be a pivotal match in the race for the Premier League title.

Watford head into the match struggling for goals, having failed to score in six of their last eight league matches.

Relegation-threatened Aston villa, Newcastle and Swansea are the only other teams to have scored fewer goals in the Premier League this season, with the Hornets scoring 29 goals in 28 matches.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 02:  Odion Ighalo of Watford challenges Morgan Schneiderlin of Manchester United during the Barclays Premier League match betwe
Image: Watford's Odion Ighalo (L) missed a number of good openings against Manchester United on Wednesday

"Creating attempts is the most important thing, but we create attempts so I am not worried," said Flores.

"There are teams in the Premier League who have scored less goals than us, so we are not the absolute worst team in these terms.

"The most important thing is the balance we have created since the beginning - the goals we have conceded and the goals we have scored - and our [goal difference] is zero from 28 matches.

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Ed Chamberlin and Jamie Redknapp preview Leicester's Saturday Night Football clash at Watford

"Simply, we need to be more effective but I have a lot of confidence in Deeney and Ighalo and the second line that we should score some day."

Ighalo has scored 15 goals this season, with his strong start to the campaign seeing the Nigerian linked with a move to the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United.

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But, the goals have dried up, with Ighalo scoring just once in 2016, with strike partner Deeney scoring just twice since the turn of the year, both coming in Watford's 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on February 13.

"The situation of Ighalo is that he is fit, he is creating attempts, he is our main player, our main striker, and our reference in attack," added Flores.

"In the last match against Manchester United he created five attempts, and three more against Bournemouth, so in one instance he is ready to score.

Watford's English striker Troy Deeney  scores the opening goal from the penalty spot
Image: Both of Troy Deeney's goals in 2016 came against Crystal Palace on February 13

"Someday, maybe tomorrow, he will finish the bad run and he will be able to score again."

Watford's 1-0 defeat at Manchester United on Wednesday saw them drop to 12th in the table. A win over Leicester could lift them back into the top half, and Flores expects his side to give the league leaders a stern test.

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Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores has praised the work Claudio Ranieri has done at Leicester

"The morale of Leicester is very high but our morale is also high," said Flores. "We are playing well and we are confident after playing against Manchester United. I want to win tomorrow but Leicester deserve to be top of the league.

"It is amazing what they are doing so it is normal that people are complementing this team. How Claudio Ranieri is leading them and how the players are playing is amazing. We are ready for an amazing match."

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