GAVIN MAHON produced the perfect response to his detractors on Monday.

The captain has been a target for the boo boys since Christmas - his name was even booed when the team was read out before the Ipswich game - and things reached a real low at the Riverside on Saturday when he was hauled off by Aidy Boothroyd.

The left-foot thunderbolt that flew past David James just before half-time against Portsmouth on Monday was therefore just the tonic the skipper needed before one of the biggest games of his career.

"It was long overdue," said Mahon on the goal of the season contender. "I score them all the time in training. It was an important goal for us, coming just before half-time and if we hadn't got that result it would have been a long, hard week for us. It was good to finish the weekend on a high note."

The weekend had started on a real low though, for the 30-year-old.

"I wasn't very happy about being substituted and I spoke to the gaffer about that," Mahon revealed.

"Aidy and I had a good meeting about how important I am and the things I need to get back doing.

"I asked him his reasons why and he said I need a captain's performance from you if you play against Portsmouth'. I'd like to think I gave him that and hopefully he'll pick me now for Saturday."

Asked about his reaction to the boos from the crowd, Mahon shrugged them off.

"I'm an experienced player and when I first came here they gave me a bit of stick," he responded. "I think I've had a reasonable season, with it being my first in the Premiership, and I want to finish on a high."

There would be no greater way to cap off the season than by leading his troops out at the new Wembley Stadium. However, standing in Watford's way are a rampant Manchester United side.

"It's going to be a difficult game, everybody knows that," he said. "As a professional, it's a game you want to play in. On their day, United are unplayable. Hopefully we can catch them on an off-day and give them a good game."

Mahon will be hoping Watford give a better account of themselves than they did at the same stage in 2003 against Southampton.

"We didn't play the best that day," he recalled. "It was a great opportunity for us.

"I played out of position and that wasn't very pleasing. Asking me to play right-back was like asking a striker to play left-back. It wasn't my natural position and it was tough asking a me to do things a right back usually does.

"Obviously, if it was a case of not playing or playing right-back then, of course, I would play right-back. Hopefully I'll be playing centre of midfield if I play."