Huge honour to be back - Watson

Victory at Brighton, 2-0 with goals from captain Troy Deeney and substitute Matej Vydra, saw the Hornets keep up their end of the bargain in Saturday's early kick-off.

And Middlesbrough's dramatic defeat to Derby and Norwich's draw at Rotherham meant the celebrations could begin in earnest - meaning Slavisa Jokanovic need not worry about preparing for a "final" after likening his side's result to winning a semi-final.

Watson was later able to reflect on the true meaning of the day's results and told the Guardian: "It's a huge honour to be back in the Premier League and our supporters deserve it."

Odion Ighalo, one of Watford's two 20-goal strikers along with Deeney, added in the Independent: "When we finished our game we were watching on our phones, listening to the results. We were waiting and waiting until the last minute, then you could see the celebrations on the bus.

"We work hard together as a team and we are in the Premier League. But we have a job to do and make sure we are the champions."

Watson quickly shifted his focus to the challenge that awaits next season and is adamant his side can compete.

"I am not being arrogant but we have the players to win big games," he said.

"We have two strikers who have scored 20 goals and another, Matej Vydra, who has 15 and a huge amount of talent at the club.

"We will need more players in the Premier League - the manager knows that. But these things are out of the players' hands."

Jokanovic was speaking before the 3pm kick-offs when he said: "We have won the semi-final and now it's on to the final, which we want to win next week."

He was thankful when Watford's second goal was scored late in stoppage time.

He added: "It was a relief and it was important. Brighton pressed at the start and the end of the game, so it was an important second goal."

Jokanovic made an early tactical change when Ikechi Anya was withdrawn after 26 minutes in favour of Daniel Tozser and the head coach played down the significance, saying: "We've made switches like this before.

"After this change we had more control. I decided to change our structure, not because there was something wrong.

"It was not a difficult decision because I am professional. It was not because he did something wrong, it was a tactical change."

Brighton boss Chris Hughton vowed to revive the Seagulls' fortunes for next season after they signed off before their own fans with a fifth defeat in the last six games.

Hughton's men have failed to win any of their last five home matches, not scoring in four, and the former Newcastle, Birmingham and Norwich manager said: "It's very, very frustrating.

"But it is my responsibility to change that and my responsibility to make sure we will be fighting in a different part of the table next season. To do that I will be bringing in personnel to change it."

Brighton effectively clinched their Championship status for another season following Millwall's 2-0 defeat at Blackburn in midweek.

Hughton is desperate to round off what has been a disappointing and challenging season with a similarly spirited performance at Middlesbrough next Saturday.

He added: "It certainly is a case of same again at Middlesbrough. I'll be incredibly disappointed if we don't get that level of performance. We also want to get the points ourselves and we are looking to win the game."

Hughton felt it was to his players' credit that Watford were forced to change their system with the early introduction of Tozser.

He said: "We matched their system and Watford changed their system due to our performance and that was testament to our lads.

"(Watford) have outstanding qualities. They have two strikers who have scored 20 goals each and Vydra has now got 15."