Watford host promotion-chasing Middlesbrough in a stand-out Sky Bet Championship clash.
Victory could move Watford into the top ten if results elsewhere go in their favour, whilst Middlesbrough will stay second with a win or draw.
Team News
James Abankwah is suspended for Watford after he was red carded in their 3-1 defeat at Coventry last weekend.
Othmane Maamma is a doubt after he recently returned to training after he was part of Morocco’s title-winning FIFA Under-20s World Cup squad.
Giorgi Chakvetadze (foot) is still sidelined.
Middlesbrough will be without Abdoulaye Kante after the midfielder needed hernia surgery, having missed the last three matches due to a groin injury.
Alex Bangura (illness) also misses out, whilst George Edmundson (hamstring), Seny Dieng and Darragh Lenihan (both Achilles) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Watford host Middlesbrough at Vicarage Road on Saturday 2 November at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Watford have won two of their last five meetings against Middlesbrough (W2, L3).
- Middlesbrough have won just one of their last seven visits to Watford (W1, D1, L5).
- Watford have scored twice in each of their last three home games against Boro (W2, L1), in which they claimed 2-1 wins either side of a 3-2 loss in September 2023.
- Imran Louza has scored in two of Watford’s last three home matches.
- Nine of Middlesbrough’s 16 league goals this season were scored away from home.
Prediction
Despite their general inconsistency aside from a small improved spell between late September – early October, Watford have proven difficult to beat at home with four 2-1 wins in six games – even though they are yet to keep a clean sheet on their own turf which shows how key their home form is.
Middlesbrough meanwhile did well to get a draw at home to Wrexham after a lacklustre first half but they showed character to fight back with an improved second-half effort and equaliser, which will give them belief although they must start better here as Vicarage Road is a bogey ground for them.
I however do think that Boro are capable of getting a result because Watford have conceded first in each of their last five home games, but this is probably the Hornets’ hardest opposition yet at home and if they concede the opener then it will be a tough ask if Middlesbrough kick on afterwards.
Prediction: Watford 1-2 Middlesbrough
Result: Watford 3-0 Middlesbrough
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