WATFORD 1
Dennis 63
LEICESTER CITY 2
Daka 11 (pen), Pereira 55
BIRTHDAY boy Enzo Maresca thanked his Maresca thanked his Leicester players for delivering a “complete performance” as they maintained their 11-point lead at the summit.
Patson Daka’s tenth minute penalty and a 55th-minute effort from Ricardo Pereira appeared to have put Maresca’s side on course for a comfortable victory.
But a mistake by Foxes midfielder Harry Winks gifted Watford sub Emmanuel Dennis the chance to reply in the 63rd minute and the visitors were forced onto the defensive to protect the points.
Maresca – who insisted he had got everything he wanted on his 44th birthday – said the combination of his side’s forward efforts together with their late resolve summed up his side’s progress this season.
“We got three points and yes we are happy because it has been a complete performance in terms of we play when we have to play,” he said.
“We suffered together, after the goals we conceded we lost a bit of confidence, but overall I’m happy.”
He added: “When we needed to play, we played the way we want to play. It’s part of the season we are trying to change some things.
“I can understand that the only thing that peoplee can see is just to get promoted. But we are changingg many things.
“This was a club in transition last summer with lots of important players leaving.”
Watford were forced to rethink their forward plans when striker Vakoun Bayo pulled up just 75 seconds into the game.
Maresca’s side assumed control, displaying the confidence expected from a side with such a commanding lead at the top of the table.
And it took them just ten minutes to make the break after Dennis Praet out
