The Barclays Premiership champions had to wait until the 93rd minute before they could break down their hosts' committed rearguard and snatch the points.

Watford have a chance to secure their first Premiership double at the Riverside tomorrow - and it is badly needed.

They head into the Easter weekend fixtures against Boro and Portsmouth bottom of the table and 11 points from safety.

But there are FA Cup semi-final places to play for and Boothroyd said: "We have got to play how we started against Chelsea - but this time do it for 94 minutes!

"They'll want to beat us up there and beat us up. I was really pleased our players were not star-struck against Chelsea. They were not afraid.

"I was delighted to see my players going in for challenges with John Terry, not being in awe of the England captain, and seeing Ashley Cole brought down. Not because I am violent, I just don't want any fear.

"We were playing a team and club who were light-years away from us in terms of technique and wealth - and we got down in the 93rd minute.

"I think you have to go through a period of playing with superstars in the top venues to be able to cope with it.

"With where we are in the table, the pressure is off to a certain extent but we are competing and we want to win this weekend.

"There are six points up for grabs against Middlesbrough and Portsmouth. And there is pride at stake. We always play for that."

When Boothroyd reflects on his first season as a top-flight manager, what he describes is a "crash course" in how to be a Premiership club.

He believes Watford would not be staring relegation in the face had striker with Marlon King not suffered a knee injury that has ruled him out since October.

King scored twice in eight appearances before his injury and Boothroyd reckons the Jamaica international would have reached double figures for the campaign.

That could have been the difference between relegation and survival for a side who have drawn seven of their home games this season - more than any other Premiership team.

"Our season would have been much different if Marlon had been available," said Boothroyd.

"We haven't had a player who can score goals for us and, with a goalscorer, you can play very poorly and win. We have played very poorly and not won.

"When you don't score goals, as a game goes on or as a season goes on, there is always an inevitability that someone will score at your end because of the quality we face every week.

"Nobody has turned us over massively so I do think it could have been a lot different."