MX23RW : Sunday, February 14 17:24:54| >> :60:1941:1941:
Feb 16, 2021 at 7pm UK at Deepdale
PrestonPreston North End
vs.
WatfordWatford

Preview: Preston North End vs. Watford - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Championship clash between Preston North End and Watford, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Watford will be hoping to follow up their 6-0 win over Bristol City with a victory away at Preston North End in the Championship on Tuesday night.

The Hornets blew the Robins away on Saturday to remain fourth, while Preston beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 on Friday night to move up to 11th.


Match preview

Watford's Ismaila Sarr celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on February 13, 2021© Reuters

Ismaila Sarr, Will Hughes, Ken Sema and Philip Zinckernagel were all on the scoresheet after an early Taylor Moore own goal as Watford secured their first win in four matches in emphatic style against Bristol City.

The result was their biggest margin of victory in a league game since 1982 and meant they had scored as many goals in one game than they had in their previous five matches.

At the other end of the pitch, Watford's clean sheet was their 14th of the season, and only Swansea City have conceded fewer goals in the Championship in 2020-21.

The result continued the Hornets' impressive home record, but it has been a very different story on the road; they have won just three of 14 league away games this season and scored just seven goals – the lowest in the division, but at the same time, they have conceded the fewest away goals (nine).

Xisco Munoz's side are six points behind the top two and a win on Tuesday would lift them up to third, if only for 24 hours before Swansea play Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

Liam Lindsay celebrates scoring for Preston North End against Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on February 12, 2021© Reuters

Preston's Lancashire derby success against Blackburn was also their first win in four matches, earned through goals from January signings Greg Cunningham and Liam Lindsay.

Alex Neil's side put in a fantastic performance at Ewood Park and more results of that ilk could leave them in contention for the playoffs.

The Lilywhites, though, have been one of the most inconsistent sides in the Championship and are currently seven points behind the top six; this week could prove pivotal in their hopes for the season as after hosting fourth-placed Watford, they travel to Cardiff City, who are currently in seventh.

Only Wycombe Wanderers and Birmingham City have picked up fewer points at home than Preston this season, who have won just four league games at Deepdale.

Watford won 4-1 in the reverse fixture at Vicarage Road in November – their first victory over Preston in the last five meetings.

Preston North End Championship form: LWDLLW

Watford Championship form: WWDLDW


Team News

Watford's Troy Deeney in action with Stoke City's Nathan Collins in the Championship on January 22, 2021© Reuters

Neil could name an unchanged team after his side's impressive performance against Blackburn on Friday night; that would mean left-back Andrew Hughes plays as a centre-back in a back three again, with Scott Sinclair and Jayson Molumby being left on the bench.

The Preston boss confirmed after the game at Ewood Park that Anthony Gordon missed out with a "slight niggle", leaving the Everton loanee as a doubt for Tuesday.

Watford boss Xisco tried out a new 4-3-3 system against Bristol City and it clearly worked to perfection, so the Spaniard may also go unchanged.

There is potential for Troy Deeney to come back in after only being fit enough for the bench on Saturday, while new signings Dan Gosling and Achraf Lazaar made their debuts as substitutes so will be in line to feature again.

Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Iversen; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Browne, Ledson, Whiteman, Cunningham; Johnson; Barkhuizen, Evans

Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Sierralta, Masina; Cleverley, Hughes, Chalobah; Sarr, Pedro, Sema


SM words green background

We say: Preston North End 0-2 Watford

Both clubs will be on a high after their latest wins and keen to now put a run of good form together. Watford's new system looks clinical and although their poor away record should not be ignored, we think that the Hornets will emerge victorious again.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a draw or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Draw/Away:data


ID:435213:cQx

Who will win Tuesday's Championship clash between Preston and Watford?

Preston North End
Draw
Watford
Preston North End
0.0%
Draw
40.0%
Watford
60.0%
5
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Watford manager Xisco Munoz pictured in February 2021
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich29177539241558
2Brentford29169455302557
3Swansea CitySwansea27158435152053
4Watford29149637201751
5Reading2914694234848
6Bournemouth291210743281546
7Cardiff CityCardiff29117114033740
8Middlesbrough29117113230240
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn281161142311139
10Stoke CityStoke2991283333039
11Preston North EndPreston29123143437-339
12Barnsley28116113134-339
13Bristol City29123142939-1039
14Millwall2981472827138
15Luton TownLuton28107112329-637
16Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2989122530-533
17Queens Park RangersQPR2789102632-633
18Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2996143342-933
19Derby CountyDerby2887131929-1031
20Coventry CityCoventry29710122740-1331
21Rotherham UnitedRotherham2785143338-529
22Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2897122130-928
23Birmingham CityBirmingham29610132135-1428
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe2847172149-2819

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