Watford and Crystal Palace clash at Vicarage Road with both sides in very contrasting form since the turn of the month.
The hosts have settled down in the Premier League, winning two games out of two since the international break and remain a tough nut to crack both on the road and at home.
Crystal Palace, however, having had two tricky fixtures against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, have gone down 1-0 twice.
Alan Pardew will know the Hornets have yet to concede at home this season and will be looking to change that here, but with the way Watford are going at the moment one would think the Hertfordshire side is favourite.
Key Battle – Odion Ighalo vs Alex McCarthy
Odion Ighalo is the talk of the Premier League at the moment after three goals in two games made him the most prolific striker in England in 2015.
The Nigerian has scored 80% of Watford’s goals so far this season, with plenty of help from Troy Deeney who has assisted three of the four and will be looking to beat Palace goalkeeper Alex McCarthy here.
McCarthy has been deputising for Julian Speroni who tore a ligament in his finger during preseason, but has not looked out of place and will surely keep his place for the trip to Watford.
Ighalo’s unnerving coolness in front of goal has been too much for stoppers in the Premier League and Championship alike over the last eight months and this game could be decided on whether he can beat McCarthy just as easily.
The Palace custodian is sure to know all about Watford’s forward, but will it be enough?
Team News
Defender Miguel Britos comes back into the reckoning for Watford after a sending off at Preston in the Capital One Cup saw him suspended for three games. There are no fresh injuries, but Qique Flores may bring Nathan Ake in to combat Palace’s impressive wingers.
Watford Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Gomes; Nyom, Prodl, Cathcart, Ake; Capoue, Watson; Abdi, Deeney, Anya; Ighalo.
Palace boss Pardew is sweating on the fitness of Scott Dann, who will also be crucial in stopping the Deeney/Ighalo partnership. Speroni could also return to the Premier League squad.
Crystal Palace Expected XI (4-2-3-1): McCarthy; Kelly, Hangeland, Delaney, Souare; McCarthur, Cabaye; Bolasie, Puncheon, Sako; Campbell.
Head-to-Head
The game will be the 50th league meeting between the two sides at Vicarage Road, though they have never before met in the top flight.
The Hornets have won just one of the last eight meetings between the sides, with Palace unbeaten at Vicarage Road in the last four.
Previous Meeting
The two sides last met on a seminal day for Crystal Palace – the 2013 Championship play-off final.
With Ian Holloway in charge, the Eagles beat Gianfranco Zola’s Watford side on a hot afternoon at Wembley via a Kevin Phillips extra time penalty.
The Hornets, who came third in the league table and were in better form than Palace, did not get going and it would have taken a huge slice of luck had they won after such a display.
Holloway’s men created numerous opportunities and it was Manuel Almunia who kept them out almost single-handedly at times. But just when it seemed they may run out of time to turn their superiority into victory, Wilfried Zaha went over a Marco Cassetti leg and won a penalty for his side.
Phillips converted and despite some late Watford pressure, it was enough to see them promoted.
Prediction
Palace have failed to score in their last two games and given that Watford have been so good defensively recently, it could be the same story here.
The Hornets look the stronger of the sides at the moment and should come out on top.
Watford 2 Crystal Palace 0
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