WATFORD FC vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST Sunday 25th August 13:15KO Injuries update Watford Defenders Marco Cassetti and Joel Ekstrand are both fit after recent injuries as Gianfranco Zola's side look to maintain their unbeaten start. Defenders Nyron Nosworthy (Achilles) and Tommie Hoban (ankle) are long-term absentees for the Hornets. Forest Strikers Darius Henderson and Simon Cox could return to contention after thigh and ankle problems. And summer signing Djamel Abdoun could feature having made his debut in last Saturday's 3-0 win against Bolton. Match Facts Watford ⢠The Hornets opened the season with a 1-0 win at Birmingham, then put six past Bournemouth in their first home league game, and shared six goals with Reading at the Madejski last time out. ⢠Victory will equal Watford's best start to a league campaign in 13 seasons. ⢠Last season's top Championship scorers have failed to find the net in only one of their last 17 league and cup games at Vicarage Road. Nottingham Forest ⢠Forest defend the only remaining 100% winning record in the Championship, and the division's only surviving watertight defence. ⢠They are looking to bag 12 points out of 12 at the outset of a second level season for the first time in 16 years. ⢠Billy Davies' side have not scored more than two goals in any of their last 17 league games on the road. Head-to-head ⢠Nottingham Forest just have the edge after 38 league meetings since 1949; the east Midland club have won 13, Watford 12. ⢠But Watford have the better recent record with a 3-0 win at the City Ground in December last year and 2-0 triumph in this fixture eight months ago; Matej Vydra scored four of those goals and Troy Deeney, the other. ⢠Forest's only maximum in the last five Championship trips to Vicarage Road was 1-0 in September 2011, courtesy of Ishmael Miller's winner. Views from the dugout Gianfranco Zola Billy Davies
This should be a good test for both teams, and a sign of how the season might go. We will probably go top with a win, while Forest will have some real momentum behind them should they win, with 4 wins on the trott.
Interesting to see the various other Watford and Forest boards. Ours seem to be fairly evenly split between a home win and a draw, whilst theirs seem to be evenly split between an away win and a draw. The best attack against the best defence suggests a draw but with how many goals is anyone's guess. On the other hand we are averaging six goals in home games and they are only averaging one goal in away games (and if anyone takes that last comment seriously, I will worry.)
I am going for my normal 3-1 home win - not being disrespectful to Forest, but I think we will too much for them
I think a draw will be a good result - you do not win all your games home or away and to me this is similar to the Reading game. Adding to your points total against another good side is important - of course I would LIKE to win
Interesting test today and as H has said big need to play for more than 40 minutes however good we have been in those periods. Against a well organised confident Forest we will need to be on our game. The prize for both teams in victory top spot. So come on you Horns and lets grab it with both hands. 3-2 Watford!!!!
Hopefully Henderson or Lansbury won't do the scoring against former club act but McGugan does. The pitch conditions might make for a good passing match but also defenders will have to be wary of mistakes.
All the short BBC previews (Radio 5 live, yesterdays Final Score) have it that "Forest can go top by winning at Watford". Is it that they can't bare to think about us winning and going top ourselves or do they have such a low opinion about the Horns that they can't imagine a home win?
Looking forward to this. Hopefully both teams can serve up some good football for the cameras (unlike the other Championship matches I have seen on TV to date this season). NF always a tricky proposition with the angry poison dwarf in charge, but we've got to be looking to win these games at home if we are serious about being title contenders. On that basis I'll go for a 2-1 (but it could be a draw). COYH
Good luck today you Horns, I'll be cheering you on! please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Getting jealous mate I would rather win 1-0 than draw 3-3 Watford will slide down the league because of your defence
Any win is better than a draw, but look at last years table and it will tell you that you can conceed and still do well if you have the goals in you too. Qpr are no Arsenal of old and if you start to conceed a couple then what? goal dif in this league is priceless often.
Today's team: Almunia; Doyley, Angella, Cassetti; Anya, McGugan, Iriney, Abdi, Pudil; Deeney, Fabbrini. subs: Bond (GK), Brown, Faraoni, Murray, Battocchio, Forestieri, Acuna.
"We are under way at Vicarage Road. Whoever wins this one goes top of the Championship." At last they say it on the Beeb .... COYH
