Watford captain Troy Deeney denies rumours of dressing room aggression before Nigel Pearson was sacked

Watford sacked manager Nigel Pearson with two games remaining

Watford captain Troy Deeney has dismissed speculation around the circumstances of Nigel Pearson‘s exit as manager.

The Hornets parted ways with Pearson over the weekend, with two matches remaining in the Premier League season and with the team still needing a win to secure their survival.

Pearson’s sacking caught many by surprise, but Deeney has denied that any aggressive moves were made at half-time in the defeat to West Ham on Friday night.

“The gaffer didn’t put his hands on anybody, he was just frustrated and had a firm talking to us,” Deeney said. “No-one was fighting, no-one was punched. There were no hands thrown.”

Deeney acknowledged that the club’s move caught the players unawares, but now the only important thing was to get behind the new temporary management—which the striker himself will not be part of.

Hayden Mullins and head of goalkeeping Graham Stack will take over team selection duties.

“You get to a point in football where you are not surprised any more, but I would say this one surprised me and took me back a bit. Troy will not be picking teams because I have read that as well, I am player-coach apparently.”

Watford face Manchester City on Tuesday night and Arsenal away on the final day.