Redknapp: Watford need a miracle

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Watford remain bottom of the Barclays Premiership after only their fourth win of the campaign, but they made light work of a Portsmouth side who looked jaded after their 2-1 victory over leaders Manchester United on Saturday.

Redknapp said: "Watford work hard and give it a real go, but they would need a miracle to avoid relegation. But Aidy Boothroyd has done a great job and he gets the best out of them."

It had looked as though Boothroyd's men would slip to their eighth league defeat of the campaign when Matthew Taylor put Pompey ahead with a fine strike in the 16th minute.

But man of the match Hameur Bouazza equalised from the penalty spot after Tamas Priskin had been tripped by Djimi Traore, and the Vicarage Road club never looked back.

Skipper Gavin Mahon put them in front with his first goal of the season in first-half stoppage time, and Boothroyd's men went on to play their best attacking football of the campaign in the second period.

Priskin netted his first league goal for the club six minutes after the interval to cap a superb move involving Bouazza and Steve Kabba, with Bouazza scoring the fourth at the second attempt following an excellent return pass from Kabba.

Substitute Arnold Mvuemba scored with his second touch nine minutes from time to reopen the game briefly, but Portsmouth were well beaten.

Watford face Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday, and manager Boothroyd knew the importance of heading into that game with a win.

He said: "Is it important to win before a big game like the Manchester United one? I think it is. But the semi-final is a huge game, against a team who can destroy anyone on their day."