Watford manager Malky Mackay has refused to accept defeat in his side's bid to sneak into the play-offs despite being seven points outside the top six with only 12 more to play for.

Saturday's 2-2 draw with Leeds United made it no win in five for the Hornets and dropped them down to 13th place, with four games remaining But when asked if he has accepted defeat in Watford's play-off push, Mackay replied: “I don't accept anything, because I look at the results every week and although I have not looked at the results for today yet, I am pretty sure baring ours, there will be another which raises a few eye brows.

“If you look at last [Friday] night's result [Norwich's victory], second place is going to change hands another three or four times this season and I don't think the other four positions are set yet.

“We will certainly have a major part to play in it. We have Leicester still to play, Barnsley, Preston and QPR – so we have two teams up at the top of the league.

“I am delighted about it because we will go and try to win every game until the end of the season and see where we sit between then.”

Mackay also expressed his pride in how Watford have coped with 'plenty' of adversity during the 2010/11 campaign.

He said: “I am so proud of them for the way they have gone about their business this season through adversity, plenty of times.”

Watford went 1-0 down with 18 minutes remaining at the weekend but fought back to take a 2-1 lead at Elland Road.

Despite the Hornets conceding the equaliser just two minutes later, Mackay was delighted with his side's character.

“I think to come up here in front of that intense atmosphere and play the way we played and pass the ball the way we did, will mean that young group will fast track and potential will turn into reality,” Mackay said.

“I know the potential they have but there is a real attitude among them not to lie down and I think they kept knocking on the door and over the piece, we kept trying to press Leeds and make the openings and I think we created some good chances.

“I think overall we certainly were worthy of a point.”