ALEC CHAMBERLAIN was happy to talk about Preston's remarkable goal.

"I did not see a lot of the free kick. He hit it very well. He put a two-man wall, central, on the edge of the box. He was so far out, I did not bother having a full wall," said the keeper.

"I didn't see the ball until it came past the two guys, which was the problem really. But even if I had got a clean view of it, I might not have got to it anyway. He hit it that well."

Nigel Gibbs said: "I felt we could have scored a couple more at the end. It was a very important win, particularly a home win. No one rolls over in this division: they keep you battling to the end."

"There are no easy teams in this division. That showed again out there. Jason played really well for us today," agreed Paul Robinson.

"We knew we would be under threat from set-pieces but we didn't cope," said Preston defender Dean Barrick. "I was very impressed with the way Watford played. Everyone knows the way they are going to play and they are very organised. They are going to take some stopping.

"We played them at home and beat them but they didn't have Lee then. They are a different side with him up front."

Alon Hazan was pleased with the victory. "The main thing is that we win. I last played one month ago but I hurt my back muscle before we fought the game. I play with this but somehow it tell me a little bit later that it is a problem and I ask for getting out," he said.

"One thing I would like to say is that the players give me encouragement and they make me very easily welcome. The fans too. It was great to hear the fans during the game and when I get out, they applaud me."

Micah Hyde said: "The fans maybe thought that we were going to run away with the League but they have to be realistic. Now we are back to the winning ways.

"It was a great ball from Jason for my goal. I did not think I was going to make it but the defender just seemed to slow down.

"Naturally I was disappointed on the day when we lost in the Cup but if it comes to penalties again, I will step up and take the next one.

"When Jason wants to work as hard as he did today, he will give defences a lot of problems. It will be good to see Alon when he has got back to his full fitness, but he has looked good.

"Our main aim is promotion but we would like to go up as champions."

Peter Kennedy thought the Hornets' second goal was the best of the day. "Micah finished it well but the build up was great," he said.

"I had been struggling with a tightened hamstring but I got a knock, which was a dead leg, and they, on the bench, thought it was a hamstring."

Jason Lee said: "We needed a win. I'm not saying we have been playing badly but we had a few hiccups. It was nice to get back to winning ways.

"We played good football and they scored from a great free kick. I would have liked to have scored but when you don't you settle for an assist. I'm pleased with three assists.

"The cross for the second goal was the sort of cross I would like someone to put in for me, to be honest. It is the way it pans out. It was a good move and the manager has been on to us to get in the box. I thought Alon played well today. We have not had much time to play with him."

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