Slaven Bilic says Imran Louza told him he didn't spit at a Swansea player, and the Watford head coach believes him.

The Hornets are awaiting the outcome of an FA hearing into a charge that Louza spat at Swansea's Ryan Manning very late in the 2-1 defeat at Vicarage Road last week.

Bilic said a combination of the player's assertions he didn't spit, and what he has viewed on tape, have convinced him there is no case to answer.

“I spoke to the player and I trust my player. I asked him if he did it, and he said no he didn’t. I believe him," said Bilic.

“I’ve watched the footage maybe 10 or 15 times, trying to see something and I didn’t see anything concrete that you can be sure what happened. I trust my player, he didn’t do it, and that’s it.

“Why should he be banned if he didn’t do it? The player said he didn’t do it.”

Bilic said the club is now eagerly awaiting the results of the FA hearing.

“I was told we’d hear yesterday, then I was told it could not be until after the Millwall game. Now I’ve heard it’s going to be today."

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