Sean Dyche delighted with Valentine's Day victory for hard-working Watford

Inspired by man-of-the-match Adrian Mariappa, Sean Dyche's side defeated big-spending Leicester's last night to move up to 15th in the Championship.

Centre-back Mariappa suffered disappointment last month when a deadline day deal to Newcastle fell through.

However, since January 31, when top-scorer Marvin Sordell departed for Bolton in a £3.2million, his commitment to his home club has not wavered and Watford have rallied by taking 10 points out of a possible 12.

Fellow academy graduate Sordell was in the crowd last night and Dyche believes it is this sense of loyalty and affection to the club that explains their continued overachievement.

"As a staff, we treat people well here," he said. "It's nice for ex-players to pop in and say hello and tells you a lot about the club.

The values I instill in the players, some people see them as old fashioned, I certainly don't. I was brought up that way.

"Pride, passion, loyalty, hardwork and belief are all massively valuable things. There's been a connection with the crowd. It's hard when they see people leave in the summer and then we have to sell someone else on deadline day. They remain connected to the players and that's important at the club.

"Don't get me wrong, if I had Leicester's money, I'd spend it. I have no problem clubs spending it."

The only slight on a Watford's win was the bizarre sending-off of Lloyd Doyley in the last minute.

The defender was adjudged to have brought down last-man Jermaine Beckford, however the challenge was actually committed by Mariappa.

Dyche refused to be drawn on whether it was a case of mistaken identity from referee David Webb.

"We'll have to see about that," he said. "I'm more focused on the win."

It was certainly Mariappa though who gave Watford the lead with a header before two David Nugent goals in seven minutes saw Leicester go ahead. Eighteen-year-old Sean Murray then leveled with a free-kick.

Beckford, who represented £3m out of the £10m Leicester spent in the summer, missed the visitors' best chance of victory with a comically inept free header from six yards before a fine winner from substitute Craig Forsyth.