Jay DeMerit says Championship leaders Watford have had 'a little blip', but are still on course for make it back to the Premier League.

Two wins in nine games had erased the nine-point advantage the Hornets held in October, and after Plymouth sneaked a late win at Vicarage Road last week, Watford were knocked off their perch by West Brom.

But Saturday's 1-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday has returned the Hornets to the top spot in England's second tier, and their American skipper is sure that promotion beckons at the end of the season.

"We should be fine," DeMerit told American Soccer Daily, "We have got back to playing the way we did at the beginning of the season, although we know it's far from over. If we can improve our home form, we'll be okay."

"We still have the confidence to stay at the top of the league. In the changing room, we keep saying that we need to realize that. We have had a bit of a blip and haven't been playing that well, but we're back up at the top of the table."

"We've had things go our way for most of the season and we tried to steer clear of the chasing pack, but we got sucked back in. Hopefully, we can now get on another run and let the others beat each other while we float above them. That's the plan."

Relegated from England's top flight last season, Watford hit the ground running in the Championship this year. Five straight wins sent them into their November 3rd home clash with West Brom top of the standings and brimming with confidence, but the Baggies ran out shock 3-0 winners, kick-starting a stuttering run for DeMerit's team.

"I think the West Brom game blew our confidence out of us," recalled DeMerit. "When you are on a high and you get beat 3-0, it brings you down to a low-low."

"I was not involved for the following four games because I was out injured, so I could not tell you personally what happened, but I think the main thing was that we lost a little confidence and it's harder with new players sometimes."

The US international noted how, many times last season, the team badly needed a break, but got none. This season, Watford are challenging for promotion instead of fighting relegation, but like every team, are in perennial need of a fix of that soccer staple called confidence.

"If it's 2-2 in the 90th and you get a lucky bounce and score," DeMerit explained, "Everyone's back in training the next day buzzing."

"Those types of things really go a long way as far as confidence is concerned. And the same on the flip side when you lose: you come in the next day and don't feel like training because everyone is feeling sorry for themselves."

"When you are eight or nine points clear, you don't worry so much about the chasing pack, but we know that is what the Championship is about. It is a difficult league to get out of. There are a lot of difficult teams who are very physical. We think of going to Stoke and getting a point as a good result."

Watford's 2007 saw them finish bottom of the Premier League, reach the semifinal of the FA Cup and rise to the top of the Championship. DeMerit was also made captain, in place of veteran Gavin Mahon.

Maverick young coach Aidy Boothroyd remains popular at the club and the executor of the club's five-year plan to establish themselves in the top division.

"It was a five year-plan, but plans can change," said DeMerit. "Our game plan this year is to get back to the Premiership and worry about nothing else. We would have a daunting task ahead of us to stay in there, but the experience of last season will have helped us - but, first things first."

The Hornets host 15th place Cardiff on Boxing Day and 21st place QPR three days later, before heading for the South Coast to face 13th place Southampton on New Year's Day.