"I don't know", Roy Hodgson on why Watford are better away from The Vic

Roy Hodgson said that he doesn't know why Watford are harder to beat and look like a different proposition away from home.

The Hornets have now racked up eight points on their travels following yesterday's impressive 2-1 win at Southampton.

And their away away form stands in stark contrast to their Vicarage Road woes, where they are yet to get their first point under the ex-Crystal Palace manager in three outings.

Speaking to CapitalFootball after his side's narrow win at Saint Mary's he said: "I don't know[why Watford do better on their travels]. We get the question every week. I don't know. f there was a simple answer, if we go away from home and we do this and at home we do something different. But we don't.

"The way we set up to play, the things we ask the players to do, the team talks, our video messaging to the players, our post-match analysis, our work on the training field. It literally does not change between a home and away game. But we lose at home and win away and I just don't have an answer."

When asked if he rather sits outside of the relegation zone like Leeds United and Everton at this stage of the season but with the added pressure that comes with having to look over their shoulder or be the "chasing" side, he said: " I'd love to be outside of the relegation zone, I'd love to be looking down, I'd love to have that margin.

"If you go to Southampton and you lose you are in an even worse situation. I'd like to be able to say that if we do lose we still have four or five points [more than our direct rivals]. That's what I like.

"But that wasn't what I was given. I was given a job to look after team which wasn't in that comfortable position. We knew from the start that we're in a dogfight.

"We are doing our very best to do what the club has asked of us, to work with the team and make them a better team unit."