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Watford vs Derby County
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The Hornets vs The Rams
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Zola vs McClaren
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at The Vic, Saturday 19th October 2013, kick-off 3:00pm
The Wally with the Brolly rolls into town with his Rams team for his first away fixture as Head Coach. This will be the 37th League meeting between the two clubs, and the 19th at The Vic. Corresponding fixtures have seen Watford win 7, Derby win 4 with 7 drawn - during which Watford have scored 30 and conceded 19. Worryingly, Watford have never won an October fixture against the Rams, with 3 draws and a defeat over the years....
Another large attendance is in the offing with all home tickets having been sold and Derby reporting that they have sold 1100 of their allocation so far.
Our ex-Rams: None. Their ex-Hornets: On the playing side, John Eustace and Craig Forsyth. Assistant brolly Eric Steele and rumoured Head of Recruitment Iain Moody.
Last time out:
Derby - a 3-1 home win over current easybeats Leeds, their goals coming from dangermen Martin, Russell and Hughes. McClaren's thoughts on the game: "In the two games I have seen, I have seen all our frailties and strengths - and there is a lot of work to do."
Watford - bounced back from an inept display & defeat at Blackburn to inflict a first home defeat of the season on Huddersfield, winning 2-1 with goals from Forestieri and Pudil. Zola's thoughts on the game: "...the one disappointing bit for me - we should have closed the game as we had so many chances.... it was a shock for me not to have scored another goal... normally when you create and don't score you may end up conceding...I like the grit of the team - they didn't want to concede."
Current table:
Watford - 5th, W6 D3 L2 GD +11, points 21**** Derby - 10th, W4 D3 L4 GD +3, points 15
Team/Injury news:
Watford - No reports of injury to our International contingent, other than a 'minor knock' to Anya that saw him substituted after 77 minutes of Scotland's win over Croatia. Almen Abdi has still not fully recovered from his foot injury and Troy Deeney is a doubt due to a calf strain. Davide Faraoni serves a one match suspension after collecting his fifth booking last time out.
Derby - Will Hughes is a slight doubt due to a groin injury that kept him out of England U21 duty. Striker Johnny Russell definitely misses out after fracturing his leg against Leeds. Midfielders Hendrick and Coutts are both out. Simon Dawkins has signed from Spurs on a three month emergency loan and the striker may be available for this match.
Prediction: With McClaren tinkering with a new formation - a 4-3-3/4-5-1 mix - I expect Watford to show them how it is done and ram the Rams - a 3-0 home victory to spoil the returns of Eustace and Forsyth.
