Watford look to continue their fight for survival as Roy Hodgson’s Hornets host Brentford at Vicarage Road.
Victory would see Watford move above Burnley into 18th position and three points from safety, whereas Brentford can go 10th with a win if Brighton lose elsewhere in the lunchtime kick-off.
Team News
Cucho Hernandez is ruled out for Watford after suffering a hamstring injury in last weekend’s loss against Leeds.
Kwadwo Baah and Nicolas Nkoulou are both doubtful for selection as they continue to rebuild match fitness following respective ankle and hamstring injuries.
Brentford could have Pontus Jansson available after the Swedish defender recovered from a virus which forced him to miss their win over West Ham last Sunday.
Frank Onyeka (ankle) and Josh Dasilva (hamstring) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Watford lost their only previous Premier League meeting against Brentford in a 2-1 defeat in December 2021.
- Brentford are winless in their last nine visits to Vicarage Road in all competitions (D2, L7).
- Both Watford and Brentford have scored in four of their last five clashes at Vicarage Road in all competitions.
- Watford have lost each of their last matches played at home (L9).
- Brentford have conceded first in three of their last four away matches (W2, L2).
Prediction
If there is one common frustration about Watford this season, it has to be the lack of connection between attack and defence because their attacking quality has been excellent yet a mixture of poor finishing and awful defending has been their downfall.
That sadly proved the case again last weekend against Leeds and with time slowly running out in their fight for survival, they really need a win here just to give themselves a shot at survival otherwise they’re as done as relegated.
Brentford meanwhile seem to have rediscovered their spark since the international break with two aggressive attacking performances, especially against West Ham last weekend because they just kept going which clinically paid off after a wasteful first-half.
Vicarage Road though hasn’t been a strong hunting ground for the Bees but if they play like they’ve done lately and can expose Watford’s defensive deficiencies, I can see just one result coming but this should at least be a decent battle.
Prediction: Watford 1-2 Brentford
Result: Watford 1-2 Brentford
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