SM
Real Madrid vs AC Milan: 16 hrs 25 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
SL
Championship | Gameweek 26
Jan 22, 2021 at 7.45pm UK
Bet365 Stadium
WL

Stoke
1 - 2
Watford

Fletcher (83')
Collins (81')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Deeney (64' pen.), Sarr (68')
Sierralta (18'), Femenia (34')

Preview: Stoke City vs. Watford - prediction, team news, lineups

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

Watford head into Friday's Championship encounter at Stoke City with the opportunity to move level on points with second-placed Swansea City.

Despite remaining in contention for the playoffs, the Potters welcome the Hornets to the bet365 Stadium having failed to win in five matches.


Match preview

Newly-appointed Watford boss Xisco has picked up where Vladimir Ivic left off, picking up victories by narrow margins on a regular basis.

However, while the club's supporters would prefer to be winning games far more comfortably, the change in mood since the Spaniard's arrival is what is crucial to Watford's promotion chances.

Ivic deserves credit for helping Watford get back up and running after relegation from the Premier League, but there are early signs that Xisco has the potential to secure an immediate return to the top flight.

Nine points from four Championship games, a schedule which has included contests versus the top two, has lifted the club to within three points of the automatic promotion places.

Tuesday's 1-0 win over Barnsley came courtesy of a Troy Deeney penalty, but Xisco will take confidence from his side having now gone 265 minutes without conceding a goal in all competitions.

While Stoke have also made a habit of keeping things tight for much of the season, there are signs that Michael O'Neill's side have lost their way in the second tier.

A back-and-forth 3-3 draw at Rotherham United earlier this week means that Stoke have now failed to win a game in any competition for more than a month.

As well as exits from the EFL Cup and FA Cup, five fixtures without success in the second tier have left the team at risk of being pulled into mid-table.

Positives will be taken from Nick Powell scoring in successive games, but O'Neill will acknowledge that Stoke are close to entering must-win territory if they want to stay in contention for the top six.

Stoke City Championship form: WDDLDD
Stoke City form (all competitions): DDLLDD

Watford Championship form: DLWLWW
Watford form (all competitions): LWLLWW


Team News

James Chester will return to the Stoke XI after serving a one-match ban, leaving Danny Batth in line to feature among the replacements.

Further changes are expected with Tommy Smith, Joe Allen, James McClean and Steven Fletcher all in contention for a recall.

Xisco is also likely to make alterations to his Watford side with Nathaniel Chalobah and Joao Pedro among the players who should return.

Philip Zinckernagel is also pushing for his first Championship start on one of the flanks.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Bursik; Collins, Souttar, Chester; Smith, Allen, Mikel, Thompson, McClean; Powell, Fletcher

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


We say: Stoke City 1-2 Watford

Having lost significant ground on the top six, Stoke are under pressure to turn things around against opponents who they will still regard as direct rivals. However, confidence is high in the Hornets' ranks, and we expect the visitors to battle their way to a hard-earned three points.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals 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.Over 1.5:data




body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__431293 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 12:43:49:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 12:43:49 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Paul Warne hails "amazing" Rotherham after Stoke thriller
Harry Houdini: Wilson's late wizardry helps Fulham snatch victory from Brentford
Preview: Liverpool vs. B. Leverkusen - prediction, team news, lineups
Preview: Blackburn vs. Stoke - prediction, team news, lineups
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland139222391429
2Leeds UnitedLeeds137512281426
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd138321661025
4Burnley136521761123
5Watford137152221122
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom13562148621
7Millwall135441612419
8Blackburn RoversBlackburn135441614219
9Bristol City134721717019
10Norwich CityNorwich134632318518
11Middlesbrough135351415-118
12Swansea CitySwansea13445109116
13Coventry CityCoventry134361717015
14Derby CountyDerby134361617-115
15Hull City133641517-215
16Stoke CityStoke134361518-315
17Cardiff CityCardiff134361319-615
18Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds134361524-915
19Oxford UnitedOxford Utd133551617-114
20Preston North EndPreston133551420-614
21Luton TownLuton133371521-612
22Plymouth ArgylePlymouth133371325-1212
23Queens Park RangersQPR131751119-810
24Portsmouth131661326-139
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Preview: Red Star vs. Barcelona - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PR

Preview: Inter Milan vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PI

''It's been very tough' - Amorim opens up on taking Man United job

3

'B

Is Haaland injured? Guardiola reveals all ahead of Sporting clash

4

IH

Mainoo, Maguire return dates: Man United injury, suspension news vs. PAOK

5

MM

Team News: Sporting Lisbon vs. Man City injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

6

TN

Preview: Sparta Prague vs. Brest - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PS

Team News: Liverpool vs. B. Leverkusen injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

8

TN

Preview: Blackburn vs. Stoke - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PB

Romero doubt, Richarlison blow: Spurs injury news for Galatasaray clash

10

RD


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .