Last season's automatically-promoted duo face off this weekend at Vicarage Road as Watford host Bournemouth in the Premier League.

While Bournemouth are still scrapping near the drop zone, Watford's impressive first season in the top flight means that they sit pretty in the top half with 12 games of the campaign to go.

Watford

After winning for just the second time in nine league games against Crystal Palace two weeks ago, Watford then reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in nine years last weekend.

Struggling Championship side Leeds United were the visitors and although the Whites brought a sizeable away following, they did not cause Watford any problems and in the end Scott Wootton's comical own goal was enough to send the Hornets through to the last eight.

Quique Flores urged the club's supporters to start dreaming of a trip to Wembley, but the draw was not kind to the Hertfordshire outfit as they face a trip to holders Arsenal should the Gunners defeat Hull City in their replay next month.

As mentioned, Watford's recent form in the league does not read all that well. The Hornets have lost five of their last nine Premier League games (W2 D2 L5) and failed to score in four of their last six Premier League matches.

One of the main reasons for this is strike duo Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney going off the boil a little; between them the pair have managed only five goals in Watford's last 10 matches.

Flores will hope that they can return to form this weekend and put Watford in front early on as the Hornets have recovered just two points from losing positions this season, the fewest in the top flight.

Recent Premier League form: LLWDLW
Recent form (all competitions): WWDLWW

Bournemouth

The Cherries pipped Watford to the Championship title in a dramatic finale last season, but they have been second-best to the Hornets in the big time this term.

Eddie Howe's side come into this match having lost three games in a row, all of which were at home and the last being a 2-0 defeat to Everton in the Cup last weekend.

They might be glad to be on the road then and in the league, Bournemouth have been beaten in just one of their last seven away games (W3 D3 L1) after losing five of their first six Premier League trips.

Last time out in the league, Howe's side were resoundingly beaten 3-1 by a Stoke City side that had lost five in a row.

Heading into the final three months of the season, Bournemouth are 15th in the table, four points above the bottom three and seemingly at the top of the mini, six-team relegation league.

One thing Bournemouth tend to do is start well; the Cherries have scored more goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches than any other team in the top flight (8).

Recent Premier League form: LWDWLL
Recent form (all competitions): DWWLLL

Team News

Watford will be without Jose Manuel Jurado because of a calf injury, so Almen Abdi and Nordin Amrabat will challenge to join Deeney just behind Ighalo in attack.

Aside from that Flores has no new issues, but will have to pick between Mario Suarez and Valon Behrami to start in central midfield.

Howe, meanwhile, must decide whether to give club captain Tommy Elphick his first league start in five months after the centre-back came through 90 minutes against Everton.

If Elphick does return, then it is likely Simon Francis will move back to his favoured right-back slot and demote Adam Smith to the bench.

Lewis Grabban missed Everton's visit in the Cup and the striker is likely to again miss out with a groin strain.

Watford possible starting lineup:
Gomes; Nyom, Britos, Cathcart, Ake; Watson, Capoue, Suarez; Abdi, Deeney; Ighalo

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Boruc; Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels; Surman, Gosling, Arter; Ritchie, Stanislas; Afobe

Head To Head

Bournemouth are unbeaten in four against Watford, but three of those matches have finished 1-1, including the reverse in October when Ighalo equalised after Glenn Murray had given the Cherries the lead.

This will be the 100th league meeting between these two teams, with both sides having won 35 of the matches.

The Dugout Podcast

Hit play below to listen to Sports Mole's new podcast 'The Dugout' for our take on the week's biggest football talking points:

[On this PAGE an item was removed from that AMP version click for the full mobile version.]

We say: Watford 1-1 Bournemouth

Watford have a strong record at home against teams below them in the table this year, but Bournemouth might just be more hungry on Saturday and could earn a point to take back to the south coast.