Will Hughes says Watford are always confident of causing a threat on home soil ahead of their Vicarage Road meeting with Bournemouth.

The Hornets return to the Vic after two away days at Arsenal and Fulham – games which yielded a solitary point and saw Watford spurn a number of presentable chances in each.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, claimed a late 2-1 win at home over Crystal Palace on Monday night but were thrashed 4-0 by Burnley on their most recent travels away from the south coast.

Hughes is therefore convinced Watford will show a stark improvement on the display which saw them lose 2-0 on the road at Arsenal on Saturday.

He said: “Like us they’ve started the season well. They’ve come off the back of a 4-0 defeat in their last away game.

“In all our home games we want to be a threat and I think we can take anyone on, especially at home. The Bournemouth game will be no different.”

Defeat at the Emirates Stadium may not have been the ideal outcome from Watford’s short trip to north London, but Javi Gracia’s side still offered plenty of quality in the capital.

They have battled back in games and shown resilience to hold onto leads throughout the campaign and such characteristics have been key to winning four of the first seven league games this term.

Hughes insists the unity which has driven Watford’s season so far remains intact despite the loss at Arsenal and three game winless run.

“Even when we have been up against it or gone behind, we always look like we have been in the game. Our heads don’t drop,” he said.

“We’ve battled right to the end and I think that shows the character in the team. We’re never going to lie down whatever is happening on the pitch.”