Football – England – Championship
Saturday 20th September 2014 – Kickoff: 1215hrs
Saturday’s early kick-off in the Championship features Watford and Bournemouth at Vicarage Road and The Hornets will go in search of a fourth successive home win at lunchtime today.
Firstly, looking at Watford, and they’ve got off to a flyer at home winning all three of their matches at Vicarage Road with wins over Bolton Wanderers 3-0, Leeds United 4-1 and Huddersfield Town 4-2, the latter probably being the most satisfying following a 1-4 defeat at home to The Terriers at the end of last season.
Watford hold a good record on home turf and have won five of their last six there, and indeed, have lost just once in their last thirteen Championship matches. Former manager Sannino controversially left the club recently amidst dressing room disagreements, but I’ll back former Brighton manager Oscar Garcia to pick up where Sannino left off.
Watford’s anytime goalscorers look likely to be among Vydra, Deeney and possibly midfielder Abdi while forward Forestieri is a doubt with a hamstring injury.
Visitors Bournemouth currently occupy a position just below mid-table in the Championship and they’ll be looking to break a five match run without a league win when they make the trip to London today.
Recent defeats to Nottingham Forest, Blackburn Rovers and most worrying of all, their midweek 1-3 loss at home to Leeds United will have manager Eddie Howe on alert to try and halt The Cherries’ winless streak.
Away from home, Bournemouth have yet to really impress with a mixture of results; they started off in emphatic fashion with a 4-0 win at Huddersfield Town, but things have gone on the slide since with a defeat at Blackburn although a point at Norwich City was a good result.
I was tempted to go for the over 2.5 goals option in this one, but being a lunchtime kick-off I decided to back the hosts instead who should continue their good work under Garcia. Watford to perhaps edge this one 1-0 as Garcia tightens up the defence.
Pick: Watford straight win @ 2.00 Coral
