Danny Graham silences Watford doubters

Danny Graham started the season with a brace at newly promoted Norwich City

Watford striker Danny Graham admits he is revelling in his side's unexpectedly good start to the Championship season.

Due to their financial constraints, many pundits had the Hornets down as strugglers heading into the campaign.

But Graham, who has made a big impression with eight goals, insists that the negativity drives him on.

"I think it's great. We just go out to prove them wrong. We know we can compete in this league," the 25-year-old told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"Let people talk about stuff off the field. 'Watford have a young team, they're going to struggle, they're going to blow up' or whatever.

606: DEBATE

Who knows, in a year or two with a lot of hard work, maybe he could play in the Premier League

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"We know we can compete in this league. We know we can do well. We'll go about our business nice and quietly and we'll see where that leaves us."

After flirting with relegation last season Malky Mackay's side have made a flying start, to lie fourth, just two points off an automatic promotion place.

Much of that has been down to Graham's eight goals in all competitions. And, after spending much of his early career in the wilderness, the former Carlisle front man is starting to prove that he deserves to be a Championship player.

"The start of my career was stop-start," he said. "I was out on loan here, there and everywhere and nothing seemed to be going right.

"I had a struggle in the middle period of last season, put my head down and spoke to the gaffer.

"It was one of those moments where I thought I can play in this league, going into every game where I think I can do as well as I can.

"Since then I haven't looked back and the last 10 games of last season coming into this season has been the best form I've had."

Supporters' fears that he would be snapped up by another club were stemmed in September when the ex-Middlesbrough trainee signed a new two-year deal.

"The fans might have been wondering would I be seeing the contract out but that was never the case and I wanted to get it signed," he added.

"Something came out about Swansea but never once did I turn my head or did I ask the gaffer 'what's going on, why was the inquiry rejected?'.

"It was nice that other people were looking at you but I'm happy at Watford. It's a club where I can improve not only as a player but as an individual and a leader of a team."