Hughes hails McCarthy

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In the process the club are on course for a UEFA Cup spot for the second successive year following the 3-1 victory against Watford at Ewood Park.

McCarthy has proved to be one of the bargains of the season after arriving from Porto in the summer for £2.5 million, and Hughes said: "To score 20 goals as an established Premier League striker is excellent. But to do it in your first season is remarkable."

He added: "Benni is having a great season. He is a quality player and a goalscorer. He loves getting on the end of things."

With Christopher Samba and Jason Roberts also on target it was just the response Hughes was looking for after the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Chelsea.

It was Roberts' second goal in successive matches after a frustrating time which saw him sidelined for three months with a broken foot.

In contrast Watford, whose reply came from Douglas Rinaldi, could be relegated this weekend after one season in the top flight.

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd was devastated at the way they caved in but refused to concede that relegation is inevitable.

"I am not going to run up the flag just yet, you know that, " he said. "It is not in my make-up to be negative. I have to focus on what we do is right.

"The nature of their goals were very disappointing - they were daft ones to concede. We have been great at bouncing back but what upset me was to see us get back in the game then drop our guard again."