After impressing in their return to Premier League football, Watford will welcome West Bromwich to Vicarige Road with confidence on Saturday night.
The two sides come into the match off the back of very different results on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Watford led twice at Goodison Park before being pegged back in the closing moments, but will still be delighted to have earned a point on Merseyside. West Bromwich Albion, perhaps unfortunate to be the first team in line for the former champions, were humbled by a rampant Manchester City .
Both managers will have their eye on survival from Premier League relegation this season, meaning this is a big game at such an early stage of the season. Certainly for Watford this represents a wonderful chance to claim their first win in the top flight, and the Vicarage Road faithful will be desperately hoping that their side can deliver.
Key battle – Sebastian Prodl vs Rickie Lambert
Both man-mountains, the physical contest between Sebastian Prodl and Rickie Lambert may well decide which way this one goes.
Watford have had a tendency to ship far too many goals in from crosses and direct passes over the last few seasons, hence the signing of Prodl, and this will be seen as an opportunity for the Austrian international to prove he can resolve the issue.
Lambert is the archetypal forward that the Hornets have struggled against, and he will be looking to make an impact after a frustrating debut against Manchester City.
If Prodl can keep the Englishman quiet then he may well have nullified West Brom’s major offensive weapon, while victory for Lambert in this battle would spell danger for the hosts.
Team news
Quique Sanchez Flores was without attacking-midfielders Almen Abdi and Steven Berghuis at Everton, and it seems unlikely that either will have recovered from injury in time to start this game. Odion Ighalo will be hoping to start after scoring from the bench last weekend at Goodison Park.
Watford Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Gomes; Nyom, Prodl, Cathcart, Holebas; Capoue, Behrami; Anya, Ighalo, Jurado; Deeney.
Record signing Salomon Rondon will be pushing for a starting XI berth here, as Tony Pulis must decide whether to break up Lambert’s partnership with Saido Berahino. Serge Gnabry will also hope to come into the side after moving on loan from Arsenal. Former Hornet Ben Foster remains on the sidelines.
West Brom XI (4-4-2): Myhill; Chester, Dawson, Lescott, Brunt; Morrison, Fletcher, Yacob, Gardner; Lambert, Berahino.
Head-to-head
The Baggies dominate the head-to-head record having won 16 of the 33 games played between the two sides, while Watford have won nine and there have been eight draws. It is a slightly different story at Vicarage Road, however, the home side winning six of the 17 encounters and West Brom seven.
With the sides having not met for over five years though, these records will be largely irrelevant when kick-off comes around on Saturday.
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Previous meeting
The two teams last met in April 2010 at Vicarage Road in a crucial game at the top and bottom of the Championship.
Malky Mackay’s Watford were desperately scrapping to avoid relegation, having had to deal with a number of financial difficulties throughout the season, while West Brom, led by Roberto di Matteo, were closing in on automatic promotion to the Premier League.
The game’s first flashpoint came in the 78th minute, when left-sided player Jon Harley was sent-off for a second bookable offence.
With a point seemingly the best they could hope for, the hosts then took a shock lead when Danny Graham, since of Swansea and Sunderland fame, volleyed home spectacularly in the 85th.
Just as three valuable points seemed to be a certainty though, the Baggies exploited their man advantage and Chris Brunt popped up at the back post to head home a dramatic equaliser. Neither side were delighted with the result, but both did go on to achieve their individual goals, as Mackay’s men survived and Di Matteo’s troops were promoted.
Prediction
The Hornets will be confident about their chances her, as they look to impress in their first game at home back in the Premier League. With West Brom having fallen to a demoralising victory on Monday evening, being on the wrong end of some real Watford momentum is a strong possibility here.
Watford 2 West Bromwich Albion 0
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