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Troy Deeney says Watford's indifferent start does not define their entire season

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Watford striker Troy Deeney insists he is not hitting the panic button after a winless start to the campaign

Watford striker Troy Deeney insists he is not hitting the panic button after a winless start to the campaign under Walter Mazzarri.

The Hornets were handed a tough start to the season, drawing at Southampton and losing at home to Chelsea before a midweek defeat by League One Gillingham in the EFL Cup second round.

They now host Arsenal on Saturday before clashes against West Ham and Manchester United, and Deeney insists the first few weeks of the season will not define them.

Odion Ighalo (R) and Troy Deeney (L) have formed a potent partnership up front for Watford
Image: Deeney scored 15 goals last season as he struck up a fine partnership with Odion Ighalo (right)

He told Soccer Saturday: "It sounds like it's all doom and gloom, we're two weeks into the season. Last year we drew two and lost in the EFL Cup, and didn't win until the second month.

"So I'm not exactly running to press the panic button just yet, but this is football, and if you don't win in the first couple of games, no matter who you're playing, everyone starts questioning the manager, the players.

"Of course [we would have liked to have done better], but so would Arsenal, they haven't won yet.

"We didn't look at the first five games of this season and think the league is going to be defined by it. We're just trying to keep everything into perspective."

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Watford finished 13th in the Premier League last season under Quique Sanchez Flores, along with a run to the semi-final of the FA Cup, before Flores was replaced by Italian Mazzarri in the summer

Walter Mazzarri was pleased with Watford's performance against Southampton
Image: Walter Mazzarri replaced Quique Sanchez Flores in the summer at Watford

Deeney, 28, insists the club are not setting any targets, but personally he would like to beat the 15 goals and 10 assists he registered last campaign.

"I think all we were missing out on last season was finishing in the top 10.

"We don't set targets. The way the league was last season we could have easily finished in the top 10. The target is the same as it's always going to be, which is stay up, and once you stay up as early as you can you re-evaluate.

"I think Leicester were talking about staying up until about March, before thinking: 'We can win it now!'

"We can't get carried away, this league has a way of biting you in your back. Look at Crystal Palace last year, they went from being sixth of seventh to going into a relegation battle.

"Personally I have to beat last season, obviously you have to."

Watch the full version of the Deeney interview this Saturday from 12pm on Sky Sports News HQ.

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