Slavisa Jokanovic was keen to focus on his Watford side's performance rather than favourable results elsewhere on a good weekend for the Hornets.
Watford beat Birmingham to go top of the Sky Bet Championship with two games to go thanks to Craig Cathcart's fine second-half volley.The Hornets actually finished their game second in the table but Sheffield Wednesday scored an injury-time penalty to draw 2-2 at Bournemouth and send Watford top.
Jokanovic said: "This competition is very tough and complicated and we found the same today.
"I must be happy with our performance, I must be proud with how we played in the first half and in the second half we made many chances.
"After we scored the goal we had more control and my team interpreted very well how we must finish the game and don't make mistakes and at the end I believe we deserved the three points."
Cathcart's goal was set up by a cross from substitute Ikechi Anya, who had only been on the pitch for two minutes after Jokanovic had decided to make a double change early in the second half.
Explaining why he decided to alter his side relatively early, Jokanovic explained: "I expected we were going to find more space between the lines. They were dropping back so much and we weren't finding the last pass or a clear situation for us.
"We decided to open the pitch with players in wide positions and from one of these situations we scored the goal.
"We play a different way many times and my team is prepared for understanding and interpreting. It's not the first time we've played a different structure and today I believe they played a good game under some pressure but we must enjoy this kind of pressure."