Watford v Peterborough reaction

Gianfranco Zola believes Peterborough are better than their position suggests after his Watford side scored a last-minute penalty to win 1-0.

The Hornets deserved the victory for the number of chances they created in the second half of Saturday's Championship clash at Vicarage Road, but it looked like their opponents would earn a point until Kane Ferdinand needlessly tripped Daniel Pudil in the last minute of normal time and Vydra duly converted from 12 yards.

Zola said: "It was a tough game because, first of all, we played against a team that in my opinion doesn't deserve to be in that position.

"They really played well and made it difficult for us and also because they play the same system we do.

"So in those circumstances you have to wait until maybe one of your better qualities comes out on top and sometimes that's not going to happen in the first half because everyone's on a good fitness level but then as the game goes along you have more chances."

Zola admitted his side had initially struggled to hit top gear in their first game back from the international break but was pleased that their quality eventually shone through.

When questioned if he asked his side to lift their performance level following a largely uneventful first half, Zola responded: "Consider also that we are coming from an international break and the beginning is never easy and that was one thing but mainly I believe it was the fact they were playing quite well.

"They were covering the pitch quite well, they weren't allowing us too much space plus a couple of players they were not doing the right work but once we change a couple of things and the game went on longer our better quality came through."

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson was left to rue the late penalty that cost his side dear as they slipped to their ninth defeat in 11 games.

"It's a combination of things. We've got the ball on the edge of their box and gave it away," said Ferguson when quizzed about the spot-kick.

"We think we've got away with it because he's (Pudil's) cut it back too far...I don't know what Kane's doing. He's obviously not seen the man behind him.

"I think he's actually slipped and the boy's going over but it's a really terrible way to end the game because they had 15 minutes in the second half where they've come on strong and the little boy (Fernando Forestieri) up front caused us problems, too many problems for my liking so we made the change and got back in the game.

"Grant (McCann) got control of the game, he got on the ball, and Saido (Berahino) did very well when he came on and I could only see one winner, if not that then a nil-nil, but we're not really renowned for a nil-nil."

George Boyd had a great chance to put Posh in front in the second half but headed Berahino's excellent cross directly at Manuel Almunia.

"It's not his strength," conceded Ferguson. "I actually think he's headed it too well. I think if he just glances it, takes the pace off the ball because it was a hell of a ball in, it probably goes in.

"That was a big point because I think physically we looked stronger than them towards the end, it was probably our best point of the match. I suppose, at the moment, that's the way things are going."