Stoke trip is Watford's 'biggest game of the season', says Ben Watson

Ben Watson says Watford's game against Stoke on Wednesday has become the club's "biggest of the season".

Watford travel to the bet365 Stadium on Wednesday night for their first Premier League fixture under new manager Javi Gracia.

They go into the game sitting in 10th place, seven places above Stoke, but have lost eight of their last 11 league fixtures - a run which led to the sacking of Marco Silva.

Watford were booed at the final whistle after losing to Southampton in the FA Cup fourth round with Watson having to intervene to calm a potential confrontation between the visiting supporters, Jose Holebas and Christian Kabasele.

Watson believes a win over Stoke would help lift the mood for the fans and players.

"For me, for the boys and everyone involved, it is probably the biggest game of the season," he said.

"[The poor performance at Southampton] Is what you get when you are not winning games and struggling for form, but we have got to keep going and get out of this.

"We can't rely on anyone, and Wednesday is the biggest game of the season.

"If you ask anyone in the Premier League, first and foremost it is about being a Premier League club next year.

"We have got to go to Stoke and impose ourselves and we have to make sure that we leave nothing on the pitch.

"Any of 10 teams could go down and we have to make sure we are not one of them.

"We are in this hole and we as players, as staff, and everyone involved, we have to get out of it."

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