Watford responded resoundingly to their critics last week, thumping Fulham 5-0 away from home. They had lost four straight in the Championship but the win last week seen them return to the top six and a position in the play-off places. The inconsistency they have shown throughout the season cannot be a surprise considering the number of managers that have been in charge since August. The current man in charge, Slavia Jokanovic, is their fourth already, with one of the previous incumbents lasting just eight days! If they are to mount a serious challenge for promotion then they have to retain a manager who is able to build his own team and create the consistency that has been seriously lacking.
Following a run to the play-offs last season – where they were minutes away from reaching the final – big things were expected of Wigan and Uwe Rosler, who was beginning his first full season in charge of the club. Now in December and just under halfway through, Wigan are in the bottom three and Rosler is out of a job. Former Watford boss Malky Mackay took over last month and has a major job on his hands to guide his new club to safety. Last weekend’s home defeat to Norwich was their ninth of the season and leaves them second bottom of the table. With just three wins all season (one of those coming away from home) it looks like Mackay will have to bring in some new players to freshen things up.
With the return of Marej Vydra in the summer, Watford fans were expecting a return to the 2012/13 season where both he and Troy Deeney led the club to the brink of promotion. They two combined for 44 goals that season and have struck 14 between them so far this campaign. Deeney notched a hat-trick in the romp at Fulham to get off the cold list but Vydra has struggled of late. If they can get those two going at the top of their form then they will again go close.
Wigan are yet to win a match under the new manager who has been in charge for three games. A credible draw in his first at home to Middlesbrough has been followed by two narrow defeats. Despite losing nine and being in the relegation zone, they have not been beaten by more than two goals all season, indicating that they’re competitive in many of their games. A problem for them has been scoring goals, however, failing to score in seven games in the Championship. It’s a statistic which will have to improve if they are to climb the table.
This is a difficult to game to weigh up for many reasons, not least because it see’s Mackay returning to a club he played for and managed, so he’ll have extra motivation to find that first win for his new club. Watford were scintillating last Friday and served notice to the rest of the Championship that they are capable of blowing anybody away when they find their stride. I was hugely impressed with that performance and I think they will have far too much for a Wigan side desperately looking for some inspiration.
Watford 11/10 @ Bet365
