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Championship | Gameweek 31
Feb 19, 2021 at 7.45pm UK
Vicarage Road
DL
Derby logo

Watford
2 - 1
Derby

Pedro (19'), Hughes (21')
Hughes (20'), Cleverley (42')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Troost-Ekong (77' og.)
Buchanan (45'), Byrne (90+1')

Preview: Watford vs. Derby County - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Watford vs. Derby County - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Friday's Championship clash between Watford and Derby County, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Watford welcome Derby County to Vicarage Road on Friday evening looking to strengthen their bid for automatic promotion from the Championship.

While the Hornets are unbeaten in three matches, Derby have moved clear of the relegation zone after recording five wins from their last six outings.


Match preview

Preview: Watford vs. Derby - prediction, team news, lineups

On the back of three matches without a win and just one goal being scored, Watford supporters were quick to make comparisons between former boss Vladimir Ivic and incumbent Xisco.

However, a 6-0 victory over Bristol City and a hard-fought 1-0 success at Preston North End have lifted the mood at Vicarage Road, giving fans hope that their side can still challenge for the top two.

Their three nearest rivals have matches in hand, something which needs to be taken into consideration when evaluating Watford's chances of gaining automatic promotion.

Nevertheless, Xisco has now collected 20 points from his 10 league matches in charge, and maintaining that ratio may be enough to edge out the likes of Norwich City, Brentford and Swansea City come the end of the campaign.

The Hornets have also kept four clean sheets in their last five fixtures, the only goals conceded coming during the final 17 minutes of their defeat to Queens Park Rangers.

While Watford can currently claim to be a team very much on the up, their next encounter comes against the form team in the second tier over the past six games.

Like their hosts, the only real blot on Derby's copybook came courtesy of an unexpected capitulation during the closing stages of their game at Rotherham United on February 3.

Wayne Rooney's side have responded with back-to-back 2-1 wins over Middlesbrough and Wycombe Wanderers, the latter being achieved through a last-gasp strike from defender Andre Wisdom.

Despite the threat of relegation now not causing immediate concern, Rooney will stress to his players that they must remain focused in their bid to occupy a mid-table spot before the closing weeks of the season.

Watford head into this contest with the most productive home record in the division, leaving Derby as underdogs to improve on their recent away run of three wins from five contests.

Watford Championship form: WDLDWW

Derby County Championship form: WWWLWW


Team News

Rooney has suggested that Matt Clarke should be fit for Friday's fixture, despite suffering minor eye and hip injuries earlier this week.

Manchester United loanee Teden Mengi will hope to retain his place at right-back, while Lee Buchanan may return on the opposite flank after dropping to the substitutes' bench at Adams Park.

Dan Gosling and Philip Zinckernagel are both pushing for opportunities in the Watford XI after featuring as replacements at Deepdale.

Will Hughes may drop to the substitutes' bench after playing 90 minutes in successive matches for the first time this year.

Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Femenia, Cathcart, Sierralta, Masina; Cleverley, Chalobah, Gosling; Sarr, Pedro, Zinckernagel

Derby County possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Mengi, Wisdom, Clarke, Buchanan; Waghorn, Knight, Shinnie, Jozwiak; Kazim-Richards, Gregory


We say: Watford 1-1 Derby County

A third game in less than a week will lead to both managers considering several changes for this contest. With any alterations putting their current momentum at risk, we feel that a competitive draw could be played out at Vicarage Road, a result which would suit Derby more so than their hosts.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home 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.Home Win:data



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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd33226547232470
2Leeds UnitedLeeds32209366194769
3Burnley33171423993065
4Sunderland321711449282162
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn33156123931851
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom331115742311148
7Coventry CityCoventry33138124441347
8Bristol City33111394137446
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds33129124650-445
10Watford33136144348-545
11Middlesbrough32128125043744
12Norwich CityNorwich331111115145644
13Queens Park RangersQPR331111113941-244
14Millwall321011113233-141
15Preston North EndPreston3291493438-441
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd33911133447-1338
17Swansea CitySwansea33107163446-1237
18Portsmouth3399154155-1436
19Stoke CityStoke32811133140-935
20Cardiff CityCardiff32711143554-1932
21Hull City3279163243-1130
22Derby CountyDerby3378183346-1329
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth32610163466-3228
24Luton TownLuton3276193052-2227
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