AFTER conceding five goals in their opening two games Adrian Boothroyd will be looking for greater defensive solidity tonight (Friday, August 12), in front of the live Sky cameras at Cardiff City.

The Watford boss was far from impressed with his team's first-half defensive showing in the 3-3 draw at Plymouth and said: "We've got to be solid. We've got to make sure that we go out to win matches and we've got to make sure that we have a very solid base on which to build on, and that means a big fat egg after any team that we play because we'll score goals against anybody."

Boothroyd decided against bringing his squad back up the M5 and M4 on Tuesday night, instead opting to stay in St Mellion overnight before moving to Cardiff on Wednesday (August 10).

"I think going to Plymouth, back to Watford, the lads going home, then coming in to train and then going to Cardiff was a bit pointless," said the manager, who also saw the early-season break between games as an excellent opportunity for the newest signings, Darius Henderson and Clarke Carlisle, to continue to get to know their new team-mates.

"It was a good opportunity to integrate them even further which they have done and are doing."