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Premier League | Gameweek 33
Apr 16, 2022 at 3pm UK
Vicarage Road
BL

Watford
1 - 2
Brentford

Dennis (55')
Kamara (53'), Louza (87')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Norgaard (15'), Jansson (90+5')
Toney (62')

Preview: Watford vs. Brentford - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Watford vs. Brentford - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Premier League clash between Watford and Brentford, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Relegation-threatened Watford will welcome high-flying Brentford to Vicarage Road for their Premier League battle on Saturday afternoon.

The Hornets have not won on home soil since beating Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United 4-1 back in November, while the Bees claimed an impressive 4-1 victory against Chelsea in their most recent away game.


Match preview

Watford's task of avoiding an immediate drop back down to the Championship has become much tougher, after they were beaten 3-0 at home against Leeds United last weekend.

Goals from Raphinha, Rodrigo and Jack Harrison condemned the Hornets to their 21st Premier League defeat of the season, and although Roy Hodgson has urged supporters to keep the faith, their defensive frailties are proving to be a major factor in their downfall.

Watford have now conceded 60 goals in the top flight this campaign, only Leeds (68) and Norwich City (63) have conceded more, and they have only kept three clean sheets all season, the fewest of any team in the division.

Hodgson's side remain 19th in the table but a victory for Everton against Manchester United last weekend means that the gap to safety has increased to six points with seven games remaining.

Watford's miserable home form has seen them lose their last nine league games in succession at Vicarage Road, conceding 25 goals in the process. Another defeat on their own turf this weekend would see the Hornets become only the second team in top-flight history to lose 10 consecutive home matches in the same season after Birmingham City back in February 1986.

The Hornets have lost their last two encounters against Brentford, both of which were on the road, but they are unbeaten in their last nine meetings with the Bees on home soil.

At the beginning of the year, Brentford looked to be edging towards a potential relegation scrap when they suffered eight defeats in nine matches between January 12 and February 26.

However, the Bees have now all but secured their top-flight status for next season as a run of four victories in their last five matches has seen them move up to 13th in the table and 12 points clear of the drop zone.

Thomas Frank's men followed up their impressive 4-1 triumph away at Chelsea with a 2-0 victory on home soil against West Ham United last weekend, with both Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney on the scoresheet.

Toney, in particular, has been in fine form over the last few months, scoring eight goals in his last eight Premier League appearances; only Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane (10) has found the net on more occasions since the turn of the year.

Brentford, who beat Watford 2-1 in the reverse fixture in December, will be looking to win three successive matches in the top flight for the first time since September 1946 when they travel to Vicarage Road, and three points on Saturday could see them climb into the top 10 if other results were to go their way.

Watford Premier League form:
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • L

Brentford Premier League form:
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W


Team News

Watford will be without winger Cucho Hernandez after he picked up a hamstring injury in the first half against Leeds last weekend.

Emmanuel Dennis is the most likely candidate to replace Hernandez in the starting lineup, joining Joao Pedro and Ismaila Sarr in attack.

Kiko Femenia, Christian Kabasele, Samir and Hassane Kamara could all continue in the back four, though the likes of Craig Cathcart, Francisco Sierralta and Adam Masina will be hoping to force their way into the first XI.

As for Brentford, midfield duo Frank Onyeka and Josh Dasilva are both ruled out as they continue to recover from respective ankle and hamstring injuries.

Pontus Jansson is doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff after he missed last weekend's win against West Ham due to illness.

Frank opted to select Kristoffer Ajer at right-back in a four-man defence against the Hammers, and the Norwegian could keep his spot should the Bees boss decide to stick with a 4-3-3 formation.

Christian Eriksen is set to continue in centre-midfield and could be joined by Christian Norgaard and Vitaly Janelt, while Toney, Mbuemo and Yoane Wissa are all set to start in attack.

Watford possible starting lineup:
Foster; Femenia, Kabasele, Samir, Kamara; Sissoko, Louza, Kucka; Sarr, Pedro, Dennis

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Ajer, Jansson, Jorgensen, Henry; Janelt, Norgaard, Eriksen; Wissa, Toney, Mbeumo


We say: Watford 1-2 Brentford

A few months ago, Watford would have fancied their chances against an out-of-form Brentford side, but the Bees now look a much stronger proposition and they will head into Saturday's clash as the favourites.

The pressure is on the hosts to claim maximum points as they bid to boost their hopes of survival, but we can see the visitors continuing their impressive run of form with another victory.


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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720
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