The struggling Hornets will be looking to roll Aston Villa for the second time this season and complete a double over the midlands club for the first time since the 1969-70 season.
Watford are struggling in 2016, having taken only 13 points from their last 17 League matches (won three, drawn four, lost five), a stark contrast to the 28 points they took from their first 17 EPL games at the beginning of the season, winning eight with four draws and five losses.
The Hornets are back at home this weekend following disappointing results against West Ham in the Premier League, as well as a loss to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley. Both losses have heaped pressure on the players and the manager. Safe from relegation, it appears as though the team has hit the cruise control button on the remainder of their season, picking up just four points from the last four games, losing to Stoke and Arsenal, while beating West Brom and holding Everton to a 1-1 draw.
There are also reports that head coach, Quique Sanchez Flores, will be removed from his position at the end of the season. Flores is the fifth coach to take the reigns of the club in the last two years.
Aston Villa are already relegated, so they effectively have nothing but pride to play for. Even then, they have rarely shown that this season. Villa have lost 10 consecutive Premier League matches, their longest sequence since going 0-11 in 1963, and have lost 25 matches in total this season.Nevertheless, it should still be a tough match and the Hornets will have to be well disciplined to overcome any mental obstacles they now face since their FA Cup exit.
If Watford somehow manage to lose against Villa at home, that could spell the end of Flores’s Watford tenure.
Key Battle – Odion Ighalo/Troy Deeney vs Villa backline
At this stage of the season, and with Villa already relegated, you would expect the misfiring Ighalo to find his shooting boots in this game. The same goes for Troy Deeney, who has had a relatively quiet year goalscoring-wise, compared to last season’s feats in the Championship. Nevertheless, if there was ever a game for the two forwards to find their goalscoring mojos, this is it. They should be able to trouble the Villa backline with ease.
Head-to-Head
The two teams have met on 15 occasions in the Premier League since 1982. Watford have won four matches, while Villa have six wins to their name. There have been five draws.
Previous Meeting
The last time these two teams met was back in October. Ighalo opened the scoring in the 17th minute, before Micah Richards scored an equaliser just before half time. Villa were their own worst enemy in this match, with Alan Hutton scoring an own goal to give Watford the lead, and from there they did not look back. Deeney got the Hornets’ third goals in the 85th minute before Carlos Sanchez scored a second consolation goal very late into injury time to see the game finish up 3-2.
Prediction
Aston Villa do not have much to play for now, with pride being the main factor in a dismal season. Watford should win comfortably at home.
Watford 2 Aston Villa 0
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