Malky Mackay was proud of Watford’s fightback against Swansea City and described his side’s second-half performance as “excellent”.

The Hornets were outplayed by Swansea City early on and found themselves 2-0 down after half an hour through goals by Scott Sinclair and Stephen Dobbie.

The visitors scored a third on 69 minutes but then Watford almost grabbed a 95th-minute equaliser after Troy Deeney and Martin Taylor had helped make it 3-2.

Mackay said: “We didn’t start the game well and Swansea did start well, credit to them, but after 20 minutes or so we got a grasp on it and gave their goalkeeper work to do the last ten, 15 minutes of the first half and possibly could have scored in that time.

“I think that gave us confidence and belief in the second half and for the whole second half I thought we were excellent. We were going to be liable to counter because we were trying to press and were two goals down, so the third goal was something that could always happen because you have to try and throw caution to the wind and get back into the game.

“But the character they showed to go right to the 95th minute is why I am so proud of them as a group of players and I am desperately disappointed for them, in particular that their hard work didn’t result in the equaliser.”

Mackay brought on Deeney with 25 minutes remaining and the former Walsall striker made an impact, scoring ten minutes after his introduction.

“When strikers or anyone else is playing well you have to bide your time [on the bench] but he is working so hard,” Mackay said.

“I have been pleased with him every time he has come on the pitch. He has applied himself since the first day he has been here, he is a real worker and is desperate to do well and desperate to be here.

“He has had to contend with great form from Danny and Marvin and I think in every game he has come on he has made an impact. When subs come on you ask for them to make an impact and he made an impact tonight.”