Nigel Pearson sacked as Watford manager with two games remaining

Pearson took over at Vicarage Road in December but the loss to West Ham leaves them just three points above the drop zone

Nigel Pearson has been sacked by Watford with just two games remaining of the Premier League season.

The Hornets have dismissed the 56-year-old, who has never overseen relegation from the Premier League, just eight months after taking over.

A statement from the club confirmed Hayden Mullins as his replacement, with Manchester City visiting Vicarage Road on Tuesday for his first game in charge.

The club statement read: “Watford FC confirms that Nigel Pearson has left the club with immediate effect.

“Hayden Mullins, with Graham Stack as his assistant, will take up the position of Interim Head Coach for the Hornets’ final two Premier League fixtures of the 2019/20 season. There will be no further club comment.”

Peason leaves Watford after eight months in charge (POOL/AFP) (POOL)

Pearson replaced Quique Flores in December last year, but leaves the club just three points clear of the bottom three.

Watford’s 3-1 loss to West Ham has left the club in a precariously position with Aston Villa and Bournemouth still holding out hope of escaping the drop.

Watford will travel to Arsenal, following the visit of Pep Guardiola’s side midweek.

And Pearson admitted after the damaging defeat that it was “difficult” to see the team unable to transfer what they had worked on in the build-up to the pitch.

“We haven’t done what we talked about doing,” Pearson said. “What we’ve worked at doing, and that is difficult.

“We have to get over it and make sure we bounce back.”