Sanchez, Guedioura hail super-sub Ighalo

In from Nifemi Daniel . . . .

Watford coach Flores Sanchez and midfielder Adlene Guedioura have heaped praises on Nigeria international Odion Ighalo for helping the club defeat hard-fighting Nottingham Forest on Saturday in the FA Cup.

Ighalo stepped off the bench on 72 minutes and scored on 89 to settle a dull fourth-round encounter which the Hornets had edged.

With a minute to go, Forest defender Kelvin Wilson made a hash of clearing Nyom’s cross and Ighalo pounced to score from eight yards.

That took Premier League Watford through and ended Championship Forest’s 13-match unbeaten run.
“With Ighalo, it looks easier to score; when Ighalo is on the pitch it is like the opportunity to score is easier,” Flores told Sky Sports.

“We tried, we crossed a lot, we played football, go inside the box a lot of times but finally Ighalo scored.

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“In the last 20 minutes we thought that with Ighalo and Jose Manuel Jurado we can maybe get one step more because they were the most offensive players we had on the bench.”

Also, Guedioura believes the Hornets’ leading scorer is irreplaceable.

The Nigeria international now has 15 goals and three assists this season, giving him a key role in 62 per cent of his team’s 29 goals.

“I think the statistics speak for themselves,” said Guedioura, who helped dump former club Forest out of the cup.

“He only came on for a few minutes and scored. He is an amazing player. He is a top, top player for the Premier League – not just for our team.

“It is really important he is staying. If you remove Ighalo it is 60 or 70 per cent fewer goals. I want him to finish the season with a lot more goals and why not be the top scorer in the league.”

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