Watford winger Ken Sema said the Hornets came out on top in ‘a war’ on a ‘bad pitch’.

The visitors kept up their pursuit of an automatic promotion spot with a fourth consecutive victory with a 3-2 win at Ewood Park.

Sema scored in the second half, backing up first half strikes from Joao Pedro and Ismaila Sarr, and he told his club’s website: “An ugly game away from home and on a bad pitch.

“It was a war but we came here and played well, we took three points at the end so of course we are really happy.”

Sema’s goal on the hour restored the visitors’ two goal lead, but there was a nervy end to the game as Ben Brereton pulled a second goal back for Rovers with eight minutes remaining.

“We had to fight, fight, fight, and we got three points,” Sema added.

“It’s a great team spirit, everyone fights in the games and in training and we are all together in the moment.

“Now we just need to have good recovery and then we go again for the next game.”

Joao Pedro opened the scoring for Watford, netting for a third successive match as the teenager move to nine goals this season.

The impressive Ismaila Sarr doubled the scoring before Sema rounded off the scoring with a neat finish across Thomas Kamninski.

Xisco Munoz insists his side must continue to improve but was impressed by another goal for the Brazilian teenager.

He added: “I think he needs to continue to score. We know Joao Pedro is an exciting player, he’s a brilliant striker, and I know also he scores a lot of goals.

“I repeat, I have a very good squad but I am happy with Joao because right now, he’s working hard and also in defence, because he does very good things for the team in defence and offence.

“The second goal also was excellent. All the players moved the ball well. This is our work, we need to continue. We need to keep improving and try to play better."