Watford vs West Ham Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

Preview

Haydn Cunningham Oct 22, 2015 @ 02:02 pm

Watford picked up a valuable win away at Stoke City which also saw Troy Deeney score his 1^st Premier League goal of the season in his 10^th appearance. West Ham continue to surprise everyone with a London derby victory over Chelsea which took them into 3^rd.

After 3 games without a win, Watford desperately needed 3 points and a 3^rd Premier League win of the season and the players duly obliged taking advantage of two errors from the Stoke defence. Watford had only scored 6 Premier League goals in 9 games prior to the Stoke game with Odion Ighalo scoring 5 but the Nigerian was ecstatic to set up his strike partner to open his account for the season with a well taken finish. Deeney’s hard work and effort had gone unrewarded but he finally got the goal his persistence deserved. Watford saw a lot less of the ball but took the chances when they came their way and that is what is required should they secure Premier League survival. 

Given the current state of affairs at Chelsea, West Ham would’ve saw the massive opportunity that presented itself in beating their London neighbours. A late header from Andy Carroll saw Slaven Bilic’s side take all 3 points which has now seen them beat Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal. 20 points from the opening 10 Premier League games marks the best ever start to a top flight campaign for the Hammers. They go from strength to strength and you wouldn’t bet against them securing a Europa League spot via a top 7 finish as opposed to the fair play system in which they were awarded this season but their fans will likely be dreaming of a lot more than the Europa League after the start they’ve had.  

Dimitri Payet averages 4.1 key passes per game in and is only behind Mesut Ozil but in terms of key passes from distance he stands well clear of any other player in the league with 14 in 10 league appearances. When they’ve met in the top flight of English football, Watford have won just 4 out of 14 and are now facing the league’s strongest side away from home with 13 points from a possible 15. Watford have scored just 1 league goal at Vicarage Road in 5 and will need to be as clinical as they were against Stoke should they make it back-to-back victories.

Quique Sanchez Flores has no new injury problems to deal with and is likely to name an unchanged line up for Saturday’s game. West Ham are still nursing Winston Reid back to fill fitness but given the strength in depth with James Collins, James Tomkins and Angelo Ogbonna they’re in no need to rush him back. Alex Song’s return has been set back by a couple of weeks.

Watford

Stats: W-3 L-3 D-4

Recent Form – WLDLW

West Ham

Stats: W-6 L-2 D-2

Recent Form - LDDWW

Head-to-head record:

Possible Line-ups

Watford (4-4-2) – Gomes, Nyom, Britos, Cathcart, Ake, Anya, Capoue, Watson, Ibarbo, Ighalo, Deeney

West Ham (4-2-3-1) – Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Collins, Cresswell, Kouyate, Noble, Payet, Lanzini, Moses, Sakho

Injury List/Suspended Players

Watford – Jurado (inj), Ekstrand (inj).
West Ham – Reid (inj), Song (inj)

Watford v West Ham Head to Head

League Positions