Quique Sanchez Flores described his Watford players as heroes following the Hornets' 2-1 victory at Newcastle United this afternoon.

The Golden Boys left St James’ Park with a deserved three points after a brace from Odion Ighalo cancelled out Daryl Janmaat’s strike and proved enough to secure Watford’s first win since at St James’ Park since 1981.

While the headlines will inevitably be focused on Ighalo, Flores was quick to shift the praise onto every member of his squad.

“All the players are fighting like heroes,” the Spaniard said after the game.

“Every single week the players are playing really well and are trying to improve in every game. They always try to give their best.

“So it isn’t just Ighalo. He was amazing but it is the whole team who put in the performance.”

Flores added: “The players are confident, they have been since pre-season. They work so hard every single day. So I know even before the match that they will put in a good performance.

“I am really, really pleased. The team was amazing. They played well from kick off and always wanted to attack Newcastle.

“So I am very happy with the performance. In general I think it was our best half. In the past we have played very well but we haven’t been aggressive enough in the attacking third. In the last two matches we have changed that.

“When we need to be patient then we take our time but when we need to be aggressive that is what we are doing. I am very happy with the atmosphere we have at the club.”

Ighalo’s double takes his tally for the season to four goals in six matches. The Nigerian striker has effortlessly transitioned to life in the Premier League and Flores says the 26-year-old was wise to turn down a lucrative offer from China in the summer.

“Ighalo took a decision two months ago to stay at Watford,” Flores said “He had an amazing offer from another team but decided to stay here with us.

"He is clever because he imagined his future would be good here at Watford. He is heavily involved in the team and is training well during the week.”