SM
Watford vs. Oxford Utd: 10 hrs 7 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
WL
Premier League | Gameweek 20
Dec 28, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
AV

3-0

Deeney (42', 67' pen.), Sarr (71')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Nigel Pearson eager to nullify "talismanic" Jack Grealish

:Headline: Nigel Pearson eager to nullify 'talismanic' Jack Grealish: ID:384235: from db_amp
The Hornets head coach wants to make Vicarage Road a difficult place for opposition to visit.

Watford head coach Nigel Pearson is wary of Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish ahead of Saturday's meeting between the two relegation-threatened sides.

The playmaker helped Dean Smith's men to a vital 1-0 victory over Norwich on Boxing Day and has impressed since promotion to the Premier League.

Grealish has scored seven times for Villa this season and if Watford are to make it three games without a defeat, they will have to find a way of stopping the 24-year-old.

"Jack is a player who has been there a while and I would imagine people think he is quite talismanic for them," Pearson said.

"He is a player we have to be aware of for sure, but the preparation for this game is to make sure we are OK in the sense of physically and getting the recovery right.

"I am sure they will look at it from a similar point of view and they will know we have players who they need to be aware of and respect.

"But I am sure their emphasis will be on how they approach the game and there is always a lot at stake."

Pearson is hopeful Watford can make the most of home advantage when they host third-from-bottom Villa.

The Hornets moved off the basement with a 1-1 draw at Sheffield United to back up their impressive victory over Manchester United last Sunday.

After entertaining Villa, who are five points better off than Watford, Pearson's team will welcome Wolves to Vicarage Road on January 1.

He said: "We have got a run of home games coming up now and I don't know how people see them, but they are all tough.

"We have got to try and emulate certainly the game last week against Manchester United in terms of creating a really good atmosphere at the ground and we need to win more games."

The Hornets will have Ismaila Sarr fit despite an eye injury and will welcome Abdoulaye Doucoure back for the clash with Villa after a one-match ban for receiving five yellow cards in the Premier League this season.

He is expected to replace Nathaniel Chalobah, but Watford remain without Jose Holebas (ankle), Tom Cleverley (heel), Danny Welbeck (hamstring), Sebastian Prodl and Daryl Janmaat (both knee).

New signing Joao Pedro is ineligible to make his debut until January and Pearson is tempted to bring in more reinforcements when the winter transfer window opens.

"We have lost a bit of depth in the squad just because we have a number of senior players who have been out so it will be a bonus to get them back," he said.

"It coincides with January as well and I'm not discounting that we might as a club freshen it up, but those discussions are ongoing.

"At this moment in time it is about managing the fixture congestion and keeping the players we've got available as fresh as possible and continue with our fight to find a way back into contention of getting out of the bottom three."

amp_article__384235 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-12-27 22:55:35:
html db last update - 2019-12-27 22:55:35 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Nigel Pearson

Click here for more stories about Watford

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland149322391430
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd149321871128
3Leeds UnitedLeeds147522291326
4Burnley146621761124
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom14572148622
6Millwall146441712522
7Watford147162222022
8Middlesbrough146351816221
9Swansea CitySwansea14545119219
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn145451616019
11Bristol City144731819-119
12Norwich CityNorwich144642320318
13Derby CountyDerby145361818018
14Stoke CityStoke145361718-118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds145361724-718
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd144551717017
17Coventry CityCoventry144371819-115
18Hull City143651518-315
19Luton TownLuton144371621-515
20Preston North EndPreston143651420-615
21Cardiff CityCardiff144371320-715
22Plymouth ArgylePlymouth144371425-1115
23Queens Park RangersQPR141761223-1110
24Portsmouth141671327-149
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.



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