Watford not fazed by boss hunt

Lee Williamson scored the goal that booked Watford a place in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup and then said the team must ignore speculation over who will be their next manager.

Former Watford players Kenny Jackett and Andy Hessenthaler have both been linked with the Championship strugglers following Aidy Boothroyd's departure last week.

Malky Mackay has been placed in temporary charge and he recorded his first victory thanks to Williamson's 21st-minute strike.

The match-winner said: "Regardless of who takes the job, at the end of the day we're playing for ourselves, the club and our families. A manager can only do so much on the training field."

Williamson's goal, which he thumped in at the end of a slick move involving Jobi McAnuff and Tommy Smith, earned swift revenge for Watford, who lost 3-1 at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.

The midfielder had also scored in the League game but on that occasion Swansea equalised within a minute before taking control of the game.

"The sooner you play after defeat the better it is," said Williamson. "You can get it out of your system that way and it is also very important not to concede a goal. That gives the players confidence and confidence is the main thing. The other day after we had scored we conceded far too quickly."

Swansea manager Roberto Martinez described it as "a very, very poor match" but that didn't bother Mackay.

"We showed energy, application and enthusiasm," he said. "Exactly the same as on Sunday, only we didn't give away sloppy goals."

Victory came after Watford had survived an 88th minute free-kick from Swansea substitute Jordi Gomez that rebounded from an upright.

Managers in waiting need that kind of luck, but it will take more to get the job full-time. "There are a lot of good people who also want the job," admitted Mackay.