Aiming to maintain their 100% record at the beginning of the new second-tier campaign, Watford will welcome newly-promoted Derby County to Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon for a Championship clash.
The Hornets are enjoying a positive start to their competitive action following a worrying pre-season, whilst the Rams are beginning to find their feet back at this level.
Match preview
Taking charge of his first pre-season as a manager, Tom Cleverley would have been slightly concerned to see his side lose to Gillingham, Wycombe Wanderers and Reading over the course of the summer, although any worries of a slow start to the campaign have been quickly banished.
The Hornets commenced their 2024-25 Championship schedule with a marvellous result at the home of Millwall on August 10, when goals from Edo Kayembe, Giorgi Chakvetadze and Mileta Rajovic secured a thrilling 3-2 success over Neil Harris's Lions in the capital.
Tom Ince was the star of the show four days later in the first round of the EFL Cup at Vicarage Road, where the former Reading attacker netted a sensational hat-trick against the League Two MK Dons, helping the Hertfordshire hosts to a five-goal thrashing of Mike Williamson's troops.
Cleverley's side made it three straight successes at the start of this season last weekend, when a Kayembe brace and a first of the campaign from youngster Ryan Andrews sealed a 3-0 victory over Stoke City, who were undoubtedly second best at Vicarage Road on the afternoon.
After a taxing two-year stint in the third tier of English football, Derby have made a welcome return to the Championship during the opening fortnight of the 2024-25 season, with the East Midlands outfit enduring a mixed start as they get accustomed to a higher level of competition.
The Rams were one of the biggest losers on the opening weekend of the term, suffering a 4-2 defeat in Lancashire at the hands of John Eustace's Blackburn Rovers, who claimed maximum points courtesy of strikes from Tyrhys Dolan, Andreas Weimann, Sammie Szmodics and Yuki Ohashi.
Since that difficult Friday night at Ewood Park, Derby have returned to their Pride Park base twice and earned a pair of one-goal victories, beating Chesterfield 2-1 in the first round of the EFL Cup on August 13 before edging past Middlesbrough in the Championship thanks to a summer arrival.
Key to Ipswich Town in League One but struggling to make a significant impact for the Tractor Boys in the Championship last term, Kayden Jackson secured a switch to the Rams over the off-season and managed to net only the fourth second-tier goal of his career against Michael Carrick's side.
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Team News
Suffering from a knock and also the subject of transfer speculation, Wesley Hoedt remains sidelined for Watford, limiting the hosts' centre-back options.
That being said, a defensive trio of Matthew Pollock, Francisco Sierralta and James Morris have been performing admirably so far and should continue on the weekend.
Despite failing to score in the Championship so far this season, Vakoun Bayo is set to keep his spot at the focal point of the Hornets' attack ahead of Danish marksman Rajovic.
Derby remain without the services of young defender Jake Rooney, who is targeting a return to action in 2025 following a serious cruciate ligament injury.
Corey Blackett-Taylor is moving closer towards a return to the field, but it remains to be seen whether the winger makes the squad on Saturday.
Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Morris, Sierralta, Pollock; Andrews, Sissoko, Dele-Bashiru, Larouci; Kayembe, Chakvetadze; Bayo
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Vickers; Nyambe, Nelson, Bradley, Elder; Goudmijn, Ozoh, Osborn; Jackson, Mendez-Laing, Collins
We say: Watford 2-0 Derby County
After netting six goals across their opening two Championship matches, Watford will be confident of continuing their rich vein of form in front of goal against Derby.
The Rams were impressive as they fought to victory at home against Middlesbrough last time out, but we feel that Paul Warne's side will struggle on the road once again.
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