Watford host fellow relegation strugglers – Aston Villa at Vicarage Road as both teams fight to avoid the drop.
A win will take Watford to within two points of Villa who could move out of the bottom three with victory.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesIsmaila Sarr could be available for Watford if he passes a late fitness test after being subbed at Sheffield United with a suspected eye infection.
Abdoulaye Doucoure could also feature after serving a one match ban at Bramall Lane, after collecting five yellow cards.
Danny Welbeck (thigh), Tom Cleverley (heel), Sebastien Prodl, Daryl Janmaat (both knee) and Jose Holebas (ankle) are all ruled out.
Villa could welcome Tyrone Mings back from a hamstring injury which had sidelined him in recent weeks.
Keinan Davis (thigh) could also return after two months out but Jed Steer (Achilles) and John McGinn (ankle) are ruled out.
Stat Attack
- This is the 20th meeting between Watford and Aston Villa in all competitions.
- Watford have lost three of six previous Premier League meetings with Villa (W2, D1, L3).
- Villa lost their last two meetings with Watford by 3-2 results in the 2015-16 season, of which three of the Hornets’ six goals came from Troy Deeney.
- Gerard Deulofeu has scored one league goal with his left foot this season, having failed to do so in entirety of last season.
- No Villa player has lost more aerial battles than Wesley who has lost 89 scraps in the air.
Prediction
Watford simply need to win here or they face a huge mountain to climb if they’re to produce the great escape, because defeat coupled with results elsewhere could potentially leave them seven points adrift of safety.
Villa however don’t tend to travel well despite their goal scoring ability so Watford in my opinion, need to go and attack Villa from the get-go because if they can quickly get on the front foot then they should have enough to see off the Villains.
I however can see Villa making this as hard as they can but am going for a home win here.
Prediction: Watford 2-1 Aston Villa
Result: Watford 3-0 Aston Villa