'Credit to Chesterfield' - Watford boss praises Spireites after Hornets pinch FA Cup win

The Spireites were one minute away from earning a third round replay until Tom Dele-Bashiru struck deep into injury-time to win the game 2-1 at Vicarage Road.

Town led through Joe Quigley’s header, and they could be proud of their performance, which was appreciated by their noisy 4,000 travelling fans.

Ismaël told BBC Radio Three Counties: “The main thing in the cup is always to go through and we made it.

"We made the game complicated for ourselves.

"Credit to Chesterfield because I think they played a very good away game with a nothing to lose mentality.

"I did not have the feeling in the first-half that we controlled anything and this is what I said to the players at half-time. I said we needed to raise our standards because this is something that is non-negotiable.

"In the second-half we played much better, had a great mentality, and to score a goal in the last minute we know we have got that mentality. We overcame the challenge.”

On his decision to name a strong line-up which included six players from their last league game, he added: "I wanted to give the signal to everyone that we take the opponent seriously, we take the cup seriously.”

Watford defender, Wesley Hoedt, suggested boss Ismael got stuck into them at half-time.

He said: “We didn’t show up, I think the manager spoke well and fair at half-time. Credit to the guys, we responded in the right way. In the end, we got what we wanted and I think we deserved it as well.

"In the first-half we had a very big chance with (Ismael) Kone just before they scored. Of course you know it is going to be difficult when they score.

"Some true words fell at half-time, which were necessary for everyone to wake up and to realise that it was not enough. Credit to the gaffer and the staff for waking us up.

"We did what we had to in the second-half. I think we should have taken our chances in the second-half better and then the game would have changed around earlier.”