View attachment 26969 Watford vs Derby County View attachment 26970 The Hornets vs The Rams View attachment 26971 Zola vs McClaren 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.
According to a Derby site Martin has gained more free kicks for his club than any other player in the Championship. If that is the case we will need to be very careful. Our defence does seem to be a bit clumsy.
You'll have to keep a close eye on Chrissie Martin, diabolical attitude off the pitch, but a top Championship level striker with a natural finish! Give him any room at all and he'll make you pay! Having said that, I will be shouting for the Horns as per!
Cheers BB the thread is No doubt, McWan$%r will have Derby brollied up for this one, if they can understand his broad Dutch accent. Zola has to make sure we start well. No more 'the pace from the start surprised the players' jive. They should all know the drill now. I feel this game might be another one of those what might have been scenarios but I really hope not. COYH COYH COYH
Absolutely - his song writing and singing is enough to make you want to murder people. It could be tough tomorrow - they showed a hell of a lot of spirit at Ipswich and i'm always nervous when we're pretty much expected to win. That said, we do have the fire power so I'll go with an edgy 2-1
This is the main game on the FLS so bound to be the most boring game of the season which those games usually tend to be!
Still no Abi and possibly no Deeney, in which case we might be about to find out how we get on without him leading the line. Also, Derby higest away scorers in the Championship. Not sure who is 'expecting' us to win, not me for sure.
And now it appears that Anya may be doubtful for tomorrow too. http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/131018-zola-derby-preview-1120779.aspx?
It seems that this match is going to be on www.firstrownow.eu. I have mixed luck in getting these but worth a try.
