Hornets skipper Troy Deeney hopes Aston Villa can improve their Premier League form but says, somewhat tongue in cheek, if the Villans are relegated he will not cry about it.

Watford defeated Remi Garde’s side 3-2 on Saturday to condemn Villa to their 11th defeat in 14 Premier League matches.

The Midlands outfit have collected just five points this season and no team has ever survived with that number of points at this stage of the season.

Deeney scored Watford’s winner on Saturday and, as a boyhood Birmingham City fan, it certainly meant a lot to him.

But when asked about Villa’s troubles this season the Golden Boys captain was sympathetic to their plight.

He said: “Against Manchester City they were very good, against Everton they were not so good and I thought they were decent to be fair (against Watford). We were just a bit more clinical.

“But I am a Brummie lad and I don’t want any Midlands team not doing well. I want us all doing well and hopefully they can pick up. But if they don’t I won’t be crying, put it that way.”

The Hornets’ win at Villa Park lifted Quique Sanchez Flores' side back into 11th in the Premier League table.

Time and time again Watford have defied expectations this season but Deeney stresses the Golden Boys are not revelling in their success.

“We can easily lose three or four games very quickly. We’re not naïve enough to believe we’re safe,” Deeney said.

“There’s a lot of football to go and we’ve still got to get loads more points on the board.

“We had an end of season target to stay up and that hasn’t changed. It’s why I laughed when you guys said we were close to the top six.

“We will enjoy ourselves this weekend but it will be back in work this week and we’ll be focused on Norwich.”