Cleverley so proud of his Watford players after Ipswich draw.
Stopping the team with the best home goalscoring record from finding the net to earn a point with a performance full of character and commitment left Tom Cleverley visibly and audibly proud at Portman Road on Wednesday night.
His Watford side will have surprised plenty, including some of their own fans, in the way they battled to earn a 0-0 draw and become only the second Championship side this season to keep a clean sheet at Ipswich.
The Tractor Boys had won their last five at home and scored 19 goals in the process, but despite having a good spell of pressure in the latter stages of the second half they managed only four on-target goal attempts in the entire game.
It was a draw that extends Cleverley’s unbeaten start as Interim Head Coach to five games, during which time the Hornets have kept three clean sheets – they managed just two in their previous 20.
“I’m incredibly proud of the group,” said Cleverley.
We came into the job when the season looked a little bit dead in the water, and you’re staring down the barrel of a tough run of fixtures, and we get a response like we have.
“We’ve had high demands of the players in training and they’ve passed that challenge.
“Then we’ve asked them to give everything for the football club, for themselves and their teammates and they’ve done it yet again.
“Three clean sheets in five is a solid foundation moving forward.”
The clean sheet on Wednesday night was earned by some resolute defending, with bodies thrown in the way and aerial duals won.
Ipswich have scored 84 goals so far this season – an average of two a game – but the Watford rearguard was seldom breached.
