Roy Hodgson makes Watford promise amid Premier League relegation dogfight

Roy Hodgson launches his last crusade with a huge basement battle at Turf Moor, vowing he will fight to the bitter end to save Watford.

The former England coach insists the Hornets' result against Burnley will not be the “be-all and end-all” of their relegation dogfight.

In 2008, Hodgson orchestrated a great escape at Fulham, closing a nine-point gap to cheat the hangman, and he will not tolerate any defeatist talk if his baptism among Lancashire's dark, satanic mills ends in disappointment.

He warned: “If we don't win, God forbid, we've got to be very careful that we don't start thinking that because this game has gone against us it's all over.

“It should have been all over at Fulham, when we were 2-0 down at Manchester City with three games to go and absolutely no chance of catching up the nine points we needed if we lost. We did it.

“As far as I'm concerned, our faith will last until that very last moment when we really can't do it any more. Then we would have to take out hat off and apologise to the fans.”

Hodgson begins his 18-game mission to save Watford claiming opposite number Sean Dyche will have a more “organised” team at his disposal – because the Clarets boss has been calling the shots for nine years instead of nine days.

Burnley did not look like a bottom-of-the-table side as they held out for a point at Arsenal before the winter break.

And although Hodgson, 74, can't wait to unleash flying winger Ismaila Sarr and top scorer Emmanuel Dennis, he will have to make ends meet without either of them at Turf Moor. Dennis is suspended and Sarr is preparing for Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations final against Egypt.

Since flying winger Sarr was crocked by a poor challenge from Donny van de Beek in the 4-1