WILL Hughes saluted match-winner Gerard Deulofeu for making the difference for below-par Watford as they warmed up for the visit of Saints with a 2-1 win at Huddersfield.

Deulofeu gave the Hornets - who host Saints at Vicarage Road tomorrow night in a re-arranged game that had been due to be played in March - a flying start with a superb opener before his 11th goal of the season - and fourth in his last two - sealed the points deep in the second half.

Javier Garcia’s side were made to work hard for all three points at the John Smith’s Stadium and Karlan Grant headed Huddersfield’s stoppage-time consolation.

“We weren’t at our best, we weren’t at the level we should be, but it helps when we’ve got players like Deulofeu on the team who can do a bit of magic and finish the game for us,” said Hughes.

“We’ve got to be better than that, but Huddersfield gave it everything. They’re relegated and have nothing to lose, but we’ve got to improve going forward.”

Watford are on course to achieve their highest-ever Premier League finish and take on Manchester City next month in the FA Cup final.

“It couldn’t be going much better at the moment,” Hughes added. “The FA Cup final at Wembley and seventh place, which I think is the highest we can be - the best of the rest.

“There’s a big gap between seventh place and the top six, so that’s our aim, to finish as high as possible and not take our eye off that. The final is not a distraction.”