Watford host Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon knowing that three points will keep them in the hunt for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Birmingham have little but pride to play for, but four points from their last two games has indicated that they will fight for points until the start of May.

Watford

After witnessing their automatic promotion rivals all win on Tuesday night, Watford faced a real test of character when making the trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest 24 hours later.

However, the Hornets, who have looked formidable on a regular basis under Slavisa Jokanovic, powered to a 3-1 success that restored them to third position in the table.

Even though it only equalled the results of Bournemouth, Norwich City and Middlesbrough, their win, and performance to go with it, sent a message out that they don't expect to wilt in a sequence of three fixtures where they will fancy their chances of recording maximum points.

Pressure will inevitably play its part, but Jokanovic will be delighted with his squad at this stage of the campaign, especially the rate at which his forward line are finding the back of the net.

The trio of Troy Deeney, Odion Ighalo and Matej Vydra are all weighing in with their fair share of goals, and although Jokanovic usually operates with just two out of three at any one time, he has the strength in depth to call on backup should his team ever struggle in front of goal.

His defence have also found some consistency, despite the absence of Joel Ekstrand, and although they sit in third by one goal, everyone connected with the club will have the belief that they will be playing Premier League football next season.

Recent form: WLDWWW

Birmingham City

Over the past six weeks, manager Gary Rowett has expressed his concern that his side were losing their intensity after guaranteeing their Championship status, but he will be delighted with the application shown during the last four games.

The 4-2 loss at Bournemouth was a blow but didn't tell the whole story, while the 2-2 draw at home to Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night came after a first-half display that Rowett described as "testimonial-like".

However, home wins over both Rotherham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers - teams fighting at either end of the table - would have impressed the former Burton Albion chief and he will know that his team have the confidence and unity to make a late bid for a place in the top half of the standings.

Eighteen-year-old Demarai Gray is highly regarded by a number of Premier League clubs but his price tag would have only increased over the last two games. His winner against Wolves will go down as one of the goals of the season, before three days later, he popped up with the equaliser against Blackburn.

As well as the trickery of Gray, striker Clayton Donaldson continues to provide a consistent return in front of goal. He hasn't netted in his last two outings, but his 14 league goals this season suggest that he is due another this weekend.

No clean sheet in seven matches points to the fact that the defence remains an issue, but Rowett will probably accept that they will struggle to cope with a relentless Watford attack, and as at Bournemouth, that might result in more emphasis being placed further forward.

Recent form: DLWLWD

Team News

Jokanovic can call upon Fernando Forestieri for the first time in six games after the Italian recovered from a knee problem.

However, a late decision will be made on defender Matthew Connolly, who was withdrawn during the second half in the East Midlands with a tight hamstring.

Rowett may start either Jonathan Spector or David Davis in place of Diego Fabbrini, who is ineligible to face his parent club.

Defender Paul Robinson is available for the Blues, but the best that he can hope for is a place on the substitutes' bench.

Watford possible starting lineup:
Gomes, Cathcart, Angella, Connolly, Motta, Guedioura, Watson, Abdi, Anya, Deeney, Ighalo

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Randolph, Caddis, Kiernan, Morrison, Grounds, Tesche, Gleeson, Cotterill, Davis, Gray, Donaldson

Head To Head

In the 27 previous meetings between the two clubs, it's Watford who hold the advantage with 13 victories compared to nine from Birmingham.

The Hornets have also won four of the last five and are unbeaten in three games at Vicarage Road, but it was the Blues who ran out victors earlier this season.

Donaldson struck at either end of the game at St Andrew's to earn his team a 2-1 triumph which also represented Rowett's first victory in charge of the club.

We say: Watford 3-1 Birmingham City

Despite having little to play for, Birmingham have impressed in recent weeks, but clean sheets have proven hard to come by and that's not a record that is likely to improve against a Watford outfit who look increasingly strong in the final third of the pitch.