Shittu draws strength from fans' backing

Danny Shittu has urged Watford supporters to keep mirroring the players' belief that the club can avoid Premiership relegation. The defender has been amazed by the level of support the team have received despite being bottom of the table for much of the season.

Watford face a crucial week in which they could lift themselves off the bottom with victories over two of their relegation rivals.

First up is today's trip to third-bottom West Ham, where Shittu believes the travelling support can give Watford a crucial edge. "When we get to games, especially at the away games, the fans really help us by getting behind us," Shittu said. "We all believe that we can still do it. We are going to make mistakes but we are trying to learn from them."

Watford will travel to east London confident of emulating last month's FA Cup victory at the same venue. With a game in hand over most of their rivals, three points and another three against Wigan in midweek will take AdrianBoothroyd's side above West Ham, and possibly Charlton.

Two defeats, on the other hand, will surely all but signal the end of their short stay in the top flight.

Having worked so hard to realise his ambition of playing Premiership football, Shittu is determined not to see it end so soon. He said: "I wasn't someone who was playing from a young age with a club. I got in there really late and there were times when I was going to give up but I kept working hard. That's the reason why I'm here today."