PEREIRA'S PRESENT FOR BOSS ENZO

BIRTHDAY boy Enzo Maresca thanked his Leicester players for  delivering a “complete performance” as they maintained their 11-point lead at the summit.

- Pete Loosley

Patson Daka’s tenth minute penalty and a 55th-minute effort from Ricardo Pereira appeared to have put Maresca’s side on course for a comfortable victory.

But a mistake by Foxes midfielder Harry Winks gifted Watford sub Emmanuel Dennis the chance to reply in the 63rd minute and the visitors were forced onto the defensive to protect the points.

Maresca – who insisted he had got everything he wanted on his 44th birthday – said the combination of his side’s forward efforts together with their late resolve summed up his side’s progress this season.

“We got three points and yes we are happy because it has been a complete performance in terms of we play when we have to play,” he said.

“We suffered together, after the goals we conceded we lost a bit of confidence, but overall I’m happy.”