Valon Behrami admitted his red card in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Swansea City was deserved but the Hornets midfielder insisted there was no malicious intent as he planted his foot on the outside of Andre Ayew’s knee.

The Swiss enforcer was given a straight red card by referee Bobby Madley just four minutes after Odion Ighalo’s 59th minute strike – which proved to be the winner in a tight contest – had lifted the lid off Vicarage Road.

However, Quique Sanchez Flores’ side held out to pick up their first three points since promotion the Premier League and Behrami said he was relieved to see his teammates hold out to secure victory.

He said: “If you see it on video for me it is a red card, yes. But the intention wasn’t to make a bad foul – I am not that kind of guy."

Flores refused to be drawn on the incident when he spoke to the press and instead said: “I would prefer to have a look after the match or when I’m at home.

“It’s very difficult because it was very quick in play. Normally Behrami is clean. He goes into the challenge but it was very quick and I could not see.”

The 30-year-old, whose only booking this season came for Switzerland in their 2-0 defeat by England last week, drew strong criticism from Everton boss Roberto Martinez on the opening day of the season for a challenge on the Toffees' Kevin Miralles which went unpunished.

Martinez told Everton’s website: “It was a very dangerous challenge and if you review the action, he was very fortunate to escape with no major injury.”

However, Behrami took full responsibility for his dismissal against the Swans and went as far as admitting he would have to be more cute in the future.

“I like to play hard but not in this way," he said. "I was unlucky but I need to improve in this kind of thing and maybe be a little bit cleverer and maybe go on the floor before him and get the foul.

“But I always try to play fair. I’m disappointed when this kind of thing happens. We can forget it with a smile,” he joked.

“It was unlucky because I just wanted to go on the floor, protect the ball and get the foul. Then his body was under me and I didn’t want to hurt him. I’m glad he came back and didn’t suffer any injury. That is the most important thing,” the former West Ham United and Napoli midfielder added.

The win was the Hornets’ first in the Premier League since a 2-0 success at Reading in May 2007.

After three draws and a defeat prior to the international break victory kick-starts Watford’s season and the Flores reign to boot.

Asked if there had been any apprehension in the changing room as the wait for a first three point haul went on, Behrami said: “A little bit inside of us, of course nobody said, but of course you are worried because you are waiting and fighting but the first win doesn’t come.”

He continued: “When you score the team is completely different; positive and it makes everything easier.

“Then we showed character after my red card. The team did well and had some chances as well. When you win everything gets easier and the work during the week will be easier.”

Having stuck rigidly to a 4-2-3-1 system in the opening three games of the season Flores sprung a surprise by changing to 4-3-3 at Manchester City.

Again the Spaniard demonstrated his tactical flexibility against the Swans by setting up in what, at times, was a flat 4-4-2 with Almen Abdi and Jose Manuel Jurado on the flanks.

It worked and Behrami detailed what the head coach has asked for from his side ahead of the visit from Garry Monk’s previously unbeaten team.

He explained: “We wanted to press very high and go a little bit more direct with the ball to stretch them a little bit and try to get into the space – we did this really well with our strikers.

“We created a lot of chances and finally we scored in the second half. But we can still improve.”