Nigel Pearson will again fight with Watford’s investigation into striker Andre Gray’s lockdown birthday party.
The angry Hornets manager refused to say whether £ 18m striker Gray, midfielder Nat Chalobah and youngster Domingos Quina have to isolate themselves after all three from the squad because of a 3-3 home loss to Southampton were deleted.
Two goals from Danny Ings put the Saints on the road to victory, and although Watford got one goal back after Jan Bednarek’s own goal, James Ward-Prowse sealed the three points with an excellent free kick.
Before the devastating setback on Vicarage Road, Pearson confirmed that the trio of Gray, Chalobah and Quina were left out “for health and safety reasons”.
But club insiders were stunned when social media footage of an outdoor meeting at Surrey Villa Gray with Little Mix’s pop star fiance Leigh-Anne Pinnock was taken.
The pictures seemed to show violations of the blocking rules, and after the game Pearson scowled: “Until I know all the facts, I won’t make any further comments on this situation.”
It is unclear whether Gray, who came on as a Premier League substitute under Pearson, will be available to England midfielder Chalobah or Quina for the difficult Saturday game against Chelsea in the Champions League.
After only one win in eleven games in all competitions – against champions Liverpool – Pearson’s concern is not limited to the aftermath of a birthday party.
Watford is in great trouble and admitted: “We are fighting for our lives because we have not found the performance levels that we need.
(Image: REUTERS)
“We were the second best for too long. You can’t concede goals like ours, give gifts to opponents. That makes work more difficult.”
“We need to show cohesion again as a group of people. It’s frustrating right now because we don’t do the things we know we can do.”
“We still have games in which we ourselves have to make sure we secure our future in the Premier League. Nobody will do that for us.”
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