West Bromwich Albion host Watford at The Hawthorns in Monday Night Football as 2022-23 Championships season continues.
A win would see West Brom leapfrog Watford and climb into the top six, whereas victory by four goals or more would see Watford go top of the table.
Team News
Okay Yokuslu is set to start for West Brom after impressing manager, Steve Bruce in training this week, having been left out of their opening 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough due to fitness issues.
Karlan Grant and Callum Robinson are both considered doubts with knocks despite training in recent days, although Robinson might not be risked with one eye on Thursday’s Carabao Cup tie against Sheffield United.
Watford has no fresh injury concerns to report as Imran Louza (knee) remains absent.
Mario Gaspar could make his Hornets debut after he sat out last Monday’s win against Sheffield Utd due to a lack of training time, following his arrival just days earlier.
Stat Attack
- West Brom have won just one of their last seven meetings against Watford (W1, D3, L3).
- Watford have won just one of their last 10 visits to The Hawthorns (W1, D4, L5).
- West Brom have scored first in each of their last two home matches against Watford, eventually going on to avoid defeat with a 3-1 win in December 2016 then draw 2-2 in September 2017.
- West Brom are unbeaten in three of their first home matches in last five seasons (W2, D1, L2).
- Watford are unbeaten in three of their first away league matches in last five seasons (W2, D1, L2).
Prediction
West Brom come into this match off the back of a positive fightback to snatch a draw in a competitively open contest at Middlesbrough last weekend, where they slowly grew into the game and finished comfortably on top with a strong attacking edge.
Watford though are no push-overs after beating Sheffield Utd by virtue of a counter-attack winner in an overly dominant performance, whilst Joao Pedro has established that he can lead their attack if Emmanuel Dennis and Ismaila Sarr both depart this summer.
I however do expect Rob Edwards to field Dennis and Sarr as long as they’re available in order to maximise Watford’s chances of scoring points, as they will likely struggle for a bit whilst adapting if they do leave in the coming weeks.
West Brom though has been a bogey ground for Watford but I do expect a tough battle here, because both teams do have depth and quality across the pitch to cause issues for one another, so a draw wouldn’t be a surprise result.
Prediction: WBA 1-1 Watford
Result: WBA 1-1 Watford
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