Sunday 13 January 2019 14:36, UK
Tom Cleverley says Watford want to prove the doubters wrong after his goal against Crystal Palace secured a 2-1 win that moved them up to seventh in the Premier League table.
Cleverley scored just six minutes after coming off the bench at Selhurst Park as Javi Gracia's side battled back from a goal down to secure maximum points in south London.
The victory came on the second anniversary of the death of former manager and chairman Graham Taylor, whose name was sung throughout by the travelling Hornets fans.
"Graham was a massive figure here, so it's a proud moment for me that I could give the fans a good day out on what's quite a sad day for the club," said Cleverley.
"West Ham won against Arsenal earlier in the day and we knew we wanted to jump back above them.
"We want to prove a lot of people wrong, kick on again, and go on a run to finish as high as we possibly can."
Cleverley had a frustrating 2018, missing the final four months of last season with a hamstring injury before an operation on a long-standing Achilles issue further delayed his comeback.
The former Manchester United and Everton player has featured just four times in the league for the Hornets during the current campaign.
But after playing 90 minutes in the FA Cup win against Woking and then coming off the bench at Palace, the 29-year-old is now keen to force his way back into the starting line-up.
"It's been a tough year and to score the winner in an important game feels like a lot of the hard work has paid off," he added.
"I've just got to keep doing the right things and, even though I'm back fit now, I've got to be patient as the lads in my position have been doing fantastically.
"The most important thing is the win, but for me personally it's a really big reward for what's been a tough year."
