Relegation-battling Watford face leaders, Middlesbrough in a huge Championship encounter.
Victory could lift Watford up to 18th in the table, whilst Middlesbrough will go into the international break sat top with a win or alternatively results elsewhere go in their favour if they draw or lose.
Team News
Hector Kyprianou is suspended for Watford after he collected his fifth booking of the season in their 1-0 home win over Lincoln City in midweek.
Michail Antonio, Jeremy Ngakia (both quad), Kwadwo Baah (thigh), Edoardo Bove (knee) and Soumaila Coulibaly (hamstring) remain absent.
Middlesbrough could again be without their top goalscorer, Will Lankshear after he sat out their 2-0 loss at Wrexham, having suffered a hamstring injury during their 3-0 Halloween win over Charlton – which was initially thought to be cramp.
Rokas Puktas (hamstring) and Alfie Jones (calf) are still sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Watford host Middlesbrough at Vicarage Road on Saturday 7 November at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Watford have won three of their last seven meetings against Middlesbrough (W3, L4).
- Middlesbrough have won just one of their last eight visits to Watford (W1, D1, L6).
- Watford have never recorded three consecutive home victories over Middlesbrough across all competitions.
- 40 of Watford’s 173 shots in the league this season have been produced by Iker Bravo and Edo Kayembe who have both created 20 shots apiece – more than any of their teammates.
- Despite being Middlesbrough’s top goalscorer this season with 13 goals, Lankshear is yet to provide an assist in the Championship this campaign.
Prediction
Sat four points above the relegation zone after a clinical win over Lincoln City in which they were wasteful with just two of 18 shots converted onto target, Watford can’t afford to be as sloppy if they’re to beat much tougher opposition but they crucially defended well once in front.
Middlesbrough meanwhile just lacked that finishing quality at Wrexham without Lankshear’s presence which is a huge concern, as other players need to step up more but that defeat would of been a valuable lesson so I expect a strong reaction here.
Vicarage Road though is another bogey ground for Middlesbrough but with Watford’s inconsistent defence, there should be a chance of a goal here for the visitors, although I do think that this will be a tricky test if their end product quality isn’t sharp without Lankshear’s presence.
Prediction: Watford 1-1 Middlesbrough
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