Hornets steer Rocky path to victory

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd has revealed the secret behind a rare Premiership win for his side: a trip to the cinema to watch Sylvester Stallone.

The Hornets boss is hoping his side, who are still bottom despite beating Blackburn 2-1 at Vicarage Road last night, can pull off the sort of odds-defying comeback associated with Stallone’s Rocky films.

He said: “Because we have not won many games I have got to be as creative as I can so I sent them to watch Rocky Balboa. They had heard enough of me and wanted to hear someone else.

“Thankfully the cinema opened up for us, the lads went to watch it and I stayed and worked with the reserves. Maybe there is something in that and they need to go to the pictures more often.”

Watford’s winner came midway through the second half through substitute Jay DeMerit, who had come on before the break for the injured Danny Shittu.

There was no such luck for Rovers as stand-in skipper Robbie Savage suffered a broken leg in a 53rd-minute clash with Hornets midfielder Al Bangura.