Watford manager Nigel Pearson wants to turn Vicarage Road into a fortress again as he prepares to welcome Manchester United on Sunday.
Pearson was appointed by the club, who are bottom of the Premier League and six points from safety, this month after the sacking of Quique Sanchez Flores.
The 56-year-old had his first game last weekend — losing 2-0 at Liverpool — and is now set to make his home debut in charge against United.
Watford have not won at Vicarage Road in the League all season and Pearson believes that has to change if they are to avoid relegation.
“For us to retain our Premier League status this year we need to change, certainly, our home form,” he said.
“We need to make this [Vicarage Road] the fortress that it has always been. I mean, every time I have been here as a player, coach or manager, I have always recognised what a tough fixture it is.
“So it really is difficult to marry up the facts of this season to what it is like to come here and I am sure we can change that. I am sure we can rectify that situation, but ultimately our challenge this year now is to be as single minded as possible to make sure we get our own house in order first.
“We are going to have to deal with some setbacks along the way, but there are enough fixtures available for us to change our own fortunes — because nobody else will do it for us.”
Pearson is hoping that a lively atmosphere can make Vicarage Road a difficult place for opponents to come to, but also added it is up to the players to get the supporters going.
“We have a very loyal fanbase and we are currently playing in front of full houses every time,” he said. “But it is up to us to ignite them, we can’t wait for them to get us going.
“I think if we show the types of commitment and applications that they would expect from our players, from our coaching staff and from us as a football club, I’ve got no doubt that they’ll back us to the hilt.
“The message will be, we really want our fans to get behind us, but first and foremost we have got to start giving them something they like to see.”
