Ben Foster challenges Watford to chase European dream after thrashing Cardiff 

Ben Foster has challenged Watford to kick-on and chase their European dream after hitting the 40 point mark in style.

Gerard Deulofeu’s dazzling hat-trick inspired a 5-1 thumping of Cardiff City on Friday night to lift the Hornets up to seventh, whilst also securing their Premier League status for another season.

Watford have traditionally slipped into mid table obscurity under the likes of Marco Silva, Walter Mazzarri and Quique Sanchez Flores once the relegation pressure valve was released.

Ben Foster has challenged Watford to push on and chase their European dream

But Foster reckons the class of 2019 has the quality to stay in the winning groove and secure a continental adventure for next season.

‘One of the big drives was not just survive and do the minimum,’ said the Hornets goalkeeper. ‘We wanted to push it to the next level and we feel that we’ve got the squad to do that.

‘Some of the players in our team you are talking 30, 40, 50million-pound players. So we’ve definitely got the quality, we’ve got the strength in depth as well. We just need to keep it going.

Gerard Deulofeu became the first Watford player to score a hat-trick since 1986

‘When we’re firing and popping it around like that, they look incredible from where I stand. It was a thing of beauty, it’s great to watch them play so effortlessly and confidently.’ 

Deulofeu was the first player to score a Watford treble since Mark Falco back in 1986. It had also been 33 years since they had beaten top-flight opposition 5-1 as Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds rolled over for Javi Gracia’s men.

And the veteran Cardiff manager blasted his men’s mental fragilities after their resurgent charge away from danger ground to a halt.

‘The goals were giveaways and pathetic really. We will keep fighting. We are going to have games like these where we play against good teams. They are a good side but it doesn’t half help when you get decisions going for you like that.

‘We have to be stronger mentally. We can’t let decisions like that affect our game and collapse like that. We have to grit our teeth and come back with another answer.’