Troy Deeney is forecasting a strong finish to the season from Watford after they downed Leicester at Vicarage Road for a third league win in four games.

Skipper Deeney headed the hosts in from early on but Jamie Vardy appeared to have rescued a point for the Foxes in Brendan Rodgers’ first game as manager when he levelled matters with 15 remaining. Sub Andre Gray slotted past Kasper Schmeichel in stoppage time to give the home side all three points.

Watford won only one of their last nine league fixtures last season and suffered six consecutive defeats at the end of the 2016-17 campaign.

Prior to their latest burst of form they’d won only three times in 15 games after a very strong start to the season. Deeney says any media talk of a late-season ‘meltdown’ is misplaced.

“We aren’t happy to win just one and lose three,” he said.

“We want to make sure we finish as high as we can. The media have said after January there will be a Watford meltdown.

“Egos are out of the window, everyone is trying. Look at the depth of the squad – everyone is willing to fight.”

Javi Gracia’s side are in the fight for a Europa League spot, with Sunday’s win moving them back level on points with Wolves, sitting in eighth only on goal difference. Like Deeney, the Watford manager is calling for a strong finish to the season.

“We are enjoying the season. It is an important amount of points for us but I can feel the players want more and more. Who knows what can happen in the future,” said Gracia.

Watford’s next game is away at league leaders Manchester City and they are 21.00 to win at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.