Watford head coach Valerien Ismael believes strength in depth is starting to pay off for his side as they secured a late 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
A fine solo effort by substitute Yaser Asprilla was the difference at wet Vicarage Road, a goal that saw new Owls head coach Danny Rohl suffer defeat in his first game.
The Colombian was on the field for four minutes before his strike, and Ismael felt the ability to rotate players will prove to be a bonus.
He said: “We’ve got all the players available, so when you see the bench there’s a lot of quality.
“You put the pressure on the players to perform, but if they aren’t performing then we have to change because another player is waiting to play. This is what we need. We are coming through with the team spirit.
“We don’t rely on the one player to make the difference if everything goes wrong, but we are now able to make the difference at any time. Hopefully it can help the player to step up more and build up momentum.”
The game was largely a dull affair, but livened up after the restart.
It was the the visitors who had the first opportunity five minutes after the interval. A curled free kick from Windass found the head of Hendrick, who flicked his effort just over the bar.
They appeared to have the perfect opportunity nine minutes after the restart. Anthony Musaba was seemingly fouled by Jamal Lewis in the area, and referee Dean Whitestone awarded a spot kick. However, after further consultation with his assistant he overturned the decision and gave a corner instead.
The decision seemed to galvanise Watford, who started to press their way into the contest and force their opponents further on the back foot.
Even so, it was seemingly heading for a stalemate, with no tangible attempt on target from either side.
The decisive moment came eight minutes from time, with Asprilla demonstrating some fine ball control.
He picked up the ball on the right flank from Ismael Kone, and was able to work his way into the centre of the field, getting in a shot from the edge of the area that was driven past keeper Cameron Dawson.
Wednesday looked deflated after going behind, and Watford looked more likely to add a second.
Although that did not arrive, the hosts earned their first victory – and clean sheet – since mid-September.
Defeat meant the Hillsborough outfit are without a win in 12 games, and remain bottom with a nine point gap from safety.
Even so, Rohl saw plus points from his new side.
He said: “There were a lot of positive things. We trained hard this week with a lot of intensity and energy.
“Then we have the disappointment with the penalty not being awarded. For me it was a new situation the assistant overturning the decision.
“I will take the good things and we will have to go forward with the next match. I spoke with the players about what is needed to improve in the next days and the next months. It will be a tough season, we know this.
“But I see a team that has the basics, has the mentality and has the willingness – it’s to bring this with my style of football. We want to have the ball on the ground.”
Campbell gives Sheffield United victory in Steel City derby, Rodriguez strikes late for Burnley
Sheffield United joined leaders Sunderland at the top of the Championship table after a hard-fought 1-0 win against local rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
After a goalless first half, Tyrese Campbell latched onto a pass from Callum O'Hare and slotted past Wednesday goalkeeper James Beadle for the winner five minutes into the second period.
This was the Blades' sixth consecutive clean sheet at Bramall Lane and their fourth straight win home or away, and sees them go level with Sunderland on 31 points from 15 matches.
Meanwhile, Burnley are four points behind the top two after they snatched a last-gasp 1-0 victory against visitors Swansea City.
Jay Rodriguez's stoppage-time penalty secured the points for the Clarets at Turf Moor, ending their four-match winless run and climbing to fourth in the table.
Leeds close gap on Championship leaders Sunderland
Leeds United closed the gap on Championship leaders Sunderland after Regis Le Bris' side collapsed at home to Coventry City on Saturday.
Daniel Farke's side moved to within two points of Sunderland after coasting to a 2-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers at Elland Road.
Jayden Bogle sliced home after 19 minutes for Leeds, who made sure of victory in stoppage time as Joel Piroe came off the bench to score.
There was no such success for Sunderland despite Wilson Isidor and Dennis Cirkin both finding the net in the first half at the Stadium of Light.
Haji Wright pulled one back for Coventry, who dismissed long-term boss Mark Robins this week, just past the hour before Jack Rudoni snatched a 2-2 comeback draw with six minutes remaining.
At the other end of the table, Portsmouth managed just their second victory of the season with a 3-1 triumph over Preston North End at Fratton Park.
Josh Murphy and Connor Ogilvie were both on target in the first half before Colby Bishop's late penalty sealed victory after Emil Riis Jakobsen had reduced the deficit for Paul Heckingbottom's visitors.
Victory moved Portsmouth up to 23rd in the league, two points ahead of bottom side QPR and within three points of safety.
Fellow strugglers Plymouth Argyle also gained a point as Adam Randell's 41st-minute strike cancelled out Jerry Yates' early opener for Derby County at Pride Park.
The 1-1 draw leaves Wayne Rooney's side 16th in the table, but just one point clear of the relegation zone, while Derby sit comfortably 12th.
Norwich City dropped down the table in Saturday's other game, suffering their first home defeat in the league in 22 games after a 2-0 reverse against Bristol City at Carrow Road.
Anis Mehmeti and Nakhi Wells scored in either half for Liam Manning's visitors, who moved into 10th with a victory that left them just two points shy of the play-off positions.
Middlesbrough hit five against Luton to pile pressure on Edwards
Middlesbrough moved into the Championship play-off spots, brushing aside struggling Luton Town 5-1 to add to the pressure on Rob Edwards.
Delano Burgzorg netted his first two Championship goals for Boro, opening the scoring with a well-worked corner in the 30th minute before Emmanuel Latte Lath skilfully added a second before the break.
Finn Azaz set up the second and added a third just six minutes into the second half, before Burgzorg's second put the game beyond the visitors in the 54th minute.
Jordan Clark's strike was nothing more than a consolation as Luton's misery was further compounded by Azaz's stunning curling finish with three minutes left.
If results go Middlesbrough's way, they could keep their place in the top six going into the international break, but Luton are 20th after registering their eighth loss since returning to the second tier.
Elsewhere, Cardiff City missed their chance to move clear of the relegation zone after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers, who ended a three-match losing streak on the road.
Andreas Wiemann scored early on in both halves, tapping in both from close range to give Blackburn the advantage.
David Turnbull gave Cardiff hope, turning in the rebound of his own saved penalty, but Lewis Baker's late effort wrapped up the result in the 86th minute, moving John Eustace’s side up to ninth.
Ben Gibson salvaged a point for Stoke City against Millwall, ending the visitors’ four-match winning run.
Josh Coburn had given Millwall the lead from very close range shortly before the break, netting with their first shot on target, but Stoke fought back thanks to Gibson's flicked header from a corner.
The Potters are up to 11th for now, while Millwall leapfrog West Brom into seventh.
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