Watford v Crystal Palace Predictions & Betting Odds – 26th August 2018

Hornets to sustain early momentum

Watford
Watford © GEPA pictures

Watford v Crystal Palace Betting Tips – Premier League, 26th August 1.30pm

Watford have collected maximum points from their opening two fixtures of the new season so a bright start has been made from Javi Garcia’s men and he was a man under big pressure to get off to a strong start. Will the Hornets be able to keep their positive early streak going as they play host to Crystal Palace on the weekend? The Eagles suffered a home defeat against Liverpool last time out after having opened the season with a good away win at Fulham. Read our predictions for Watford v Crystal Palace.

Watford News and Form

Watford have made a good start to the season having banked back to back wins over Brighton and Burnley. Not the stiffest of opposition, granted, but the Hornets will want to keep that early momentum going on home soil on the weekend because they have tough games against Spurs and then Man United coming up. Boss Javi Gracia was the preseason favourite in the next manager to go market so he will be relieved at their good start. Watford have played with plenty of energy and have been very keen to get on the front foot. Because of the positive manner in which the Hornets have started the new season, we are going to back the game to finish over 2.5 goals at bet365 for 11/10 odds* (Betting Odds were taken from August 22nd, 2018 at 11:21 p.m.). Two notable things from them have been their work rate and success at winning back the ball and their creativity in pushing forward.

Their stand out player so far this season has been Roberto Pereyra and for our Watford v Crystal Palace predictions the 11/4 odds in the anytime goalscorer market on Pereyra appeals a lot. Last season on home soil in the Premier League Watford returned a W7 D6 L6 record and they have picked up five wins in their last eight league home games (D2 L1). So that’s a pretty decent run of home form and in the correct score market, a Watford 2-1 looks some decent value at 11/1 odds. Because Palace are such a difficult side to play against, this will likely be Watford’s toughest test of the term so far. Watford have produced 14 shots per game on average this season but could dial back on the fouls a bit. This could be a great open game.

Crystal Palace News and Form

The Eagles got off to a solid start in picking up a 2-0 away success at Fulham. Their second game of the season was a tough home fixture against the powerful Liverpool. They lost 2-0 at Selhurst Park but didn’t go down without a fight. The goals they conceded were from a penalty kick and then a 90th-minute sucker punch. But they did compete well against one of the best sides in the league. Out on the road in the top flight Crystal Palace do have some form going as they are undefeated in five away from Selhurst Park. So that’s a big positive and we are going to back them to score in this fixture. Both teams to score for our Watford v Crystal Palace predictions at 10/11 odds* (Betting Odds were taken from August 22nd, 2018 at 11:21 p.m.).

After a red card against Liverpool, defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka is now suspended which is a blow after he had started so well. The Eagles also have doubts over Scott Dann, Jonathan Williams and Connor Wickham. Christian Benteke had a stinker up front against Liverpool and may well get relegated to the bench. So it does leave everything on Wilfried Zaha who is actually the 9/4 anytime goalscorer favourite for the game* (Betting Odds were taken from August 22nd, 2018 at 11:21 p.m.). Away from home in the top flight last season, the Eagles got a W4 D6 L9 record with an average of under a goal per game, conceding at a rate of over two per game. But their opening away win at Fulham will have given them a lot of confidence.

Watford v Crystal Palace Head to Head

Palace were on top in last season’s meetings with Watford as they collected four points from their meetings with them. That included a 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road. The Eagles are on a five-match undefeated streak of form against the Hornets (W3 D2) in all competitions. Three of the last four meetings have gone under 2.5 goals and three of the last four between them at Vicarage Road have ended in a draw.

Watford v Crystal Palace Betting Odds*

Watford 7/5
Crystal Palace 2/1
Draw 11/5
* (Betting Odds were taken from August 22nd, 2018 at 11:21 p.m.)

Watford v Crystal Palace Predictions

Watford to win: We have seen enough from Watford so far to back them to avoid defeat on home soil. The Eagles have enough about them to test any side in the league and they were competitive against Liverpool. However, we are just going to back the home win in the outright market.