please log in to view this image WATFORD V MIDDLESBOROUGH please log in to view this image VENUE: VICARAGE ROAD STADIUM DATE: 6th APRIL 2015 KICK OFF: 12.30 BST Two weeks ago the Hornets were top of the table after 38 games of the season, but with just one point from a possible six since they are down to fourth and playing catch-up once more. Stingy Boro are back on top following yesterday's narrow 1-0 win over down-in-the-dumps Wigan Athletic. Watford's record against those around them might be poor, but Monday's game is Watford's last against one of their promotion rivals ahead of a relatively favourable end to the season, whereas Middlesborough have half of their remaining games against top eight teams. Watford have scored double the amount of goals at home (44) than Boro have on their travels (22), but the visitors do possess the meanest defence and enter the match at the summit. Middlesborough have been off-colour away from home recently, though, with three defeats in four games and just one win in six on their travels. Two goals were shared when these two last met back in October, with Deeney cancelling out Kike's opener at the Riverside. Back then it was a clash between second and third and both sides have maintained their top-six place since. Watford have won four of their last six home games against Middlesbrough and are unbeaten in four games against the Teesside outfit. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Patrick Bamford scored the winner for Boro on Friday, while Odion Ighalo scored to rescue a point for Watford. Our Referee: Mike Jones from Chester. please log in to view this image So far he has been in charge of 27 games this season in both the Premier League and Championship, issuing 91 Yellow cards and 7 Red. please log in to view this image After Friday's game Slavisa Jokanovic said,"I am proud because we believed we could change the situation, which is good news with six games in front of us. "We must be brave and believe in our possibilities. I am always confident in my team because if the players play with confidence, they believe they are a good team and can change the situation in the second half. Aitor Karanka "said after their narrow win against Wigan, I'm very pleased because every game is very difficult now. These are the last games and they are more difficult. I'm pleased because it was a big three points and the team fought very well." please log in to view this image Current Table 1 Middlesbrough 40 30 75 2 Bournemouth 40 42 74 3 Norwich 40 34 73 4 Watford 40 32 73 5 Brentford 40 15 69 6 Derby 40 26 68 7 Ipswich 40 16 68 8 Wolves 40 12 68 please log in to view this image This game is sold out for the first time since the SEJ was fully open. It is quite probable that a crowd in excess of 20,000 will be in attendance for the first time in 15 years. Monday is a designated yellow match,wear the colour and help the boys over the finish line please log in to view this image Watford will make a late decision on the fitness of Almen Abdi ahead of tomorrow’s lunchtime showdown. However, the club have confirmed Fernando Forestieri is ruled out with a knee injury. Marco Motta will also miss the top-of-the-table clash as a result of his sending off in Friday night’s 2-2 draw at Derby County. Karanka is likely to be without Ryan Fredericks (hamstring) and Kenneth Omeruo (groin) for the trip to Vicarage Road. But the Boro boss is hopeful captain Jonathan Woodgate will be fit enough to play his second game in 72 hours. The game will be shown on Sky, meaning that people in many parts of the world should have access to it. WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD ENJOY THE GAME #fornicforpromotion
Cheers OFH. All I can say for the game is that a win would be like a fine Tequila slipping down after a hard week´s work. Every game gets more important now, never seen a table so tight. COYH!!!!!!!
Nice one OFH. This game is really a must win, but I think every game will be if we want automatic promotion. I am going for a close 2-1 home win to put us back on track. My planning is that we secure promotion at Brighton away, so I am booked into a hotel for the week-end with Mrs W_Y, means I can get a few early pints in whilst the rest are getting the train down.
Nervously looking forward to this one . Just hope unlike the last 2 games I have seen at the Vic , there is a Watford shot on target ..and hopefully a fair few in the back of Middlesbrough net .. Going to the match with a life long Boro fan , so journey home could be a little awkward if we thump them . Need some advice / help on car parking in Watford .. I have only ever travelled in via train and notice no trains running to Watford Junction tomorrow due to engineering works .. So are there any large car parks to aim for other than those in the shopping centre ? .. I'm coming in from Hemel side of town . Jim
I can see Watford scoring an early goal , Boro open up , Watford sneak a second ... Before we know it , a shell shocked opposition are 3.0 down . Watford fans on all sides of the ground are going crazy , even the ol'farts are getting hoarse . Sadly, in the second half an ill-disciplined Boro get 2 central defenders sent off ... Watford have a field day ..with hat tricks for Deeney , Vydra and Ighalo . .....now that would be a day to remember ! Prediction ... 2.2 draw .
Clearly Woodgate has been a massive influence on their defence making it so difficult to score against. There are doubts about him being able to play two games in four days. As we have doubts about what will happen, so do their fans. "I can't see past a Watford win and Im thinking of putting 40 quid (my 365 account) on a Watford win just so there's a bright side to a loss. Having said that I would be over the moon to lose that 40 and boro get a result! I think that there strikers are just too good and will rip us apart UNLESS woodgate can manage to play 2 games in 4 days then we have a chance." I watched Boro play Wigan and was not impressed despite the 1-0 win. They were lucky that the Wigan forwards despite creating some good chances just couldn't put the ball in the net. I feel sure that it will need all four sides of the ground to really get behind the team and help the players to keep going after their efforts on Friday.
Jim If you are coming from Hemel, try the car-park in the roundabout as you first come into Watford, or round by the college. It's quicker getting out from that end of town. If not, there is the school in Vicarage Rd, or the town centre car parks.
I can't see it being anything other than tense with so much riding on it, an early start and neither side playing entirely consistently. Critical for us is to eliminate defensive errors and not allow ourselves to be dominated in midfield. We're good if we're allowed space and time on the ball.
The logic tells me that if Woodgate is a doubt for playing two games in four days he would have been left on the bench at home to Wigan, thus keeping him fresh for the match at Watford. My guess is he will certainly play, to big a game not to play your best players.
Great thread as always. Thanks OFH. Well, with 6 games to go we're in a position most other teams in the country would kill to be in. Yes it's nervy but it's bloomin' exciting! COYH
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/12872509.Abdi_may_return_for_vital_Boro_clash/?ref=mr No news on Vydra though, which sounds like good news!
Thanks Toby - We could probably do with some fresh legs against Boro - thought Watson getting booked so early on against Derby might have affected his game - not sure whether we should be looking at bringing in Munari and possibly have a semi fit Abdi on the bench?
It's a tricky one... Abdi makes such a difference when he plays, even half-fit, but risking him aggravating his injury now before the run-in is a massive gamble... Haven't seen much of Boro this season so no idea how they generally set up to play, I think it'd be wisest to play a solid team to start off with then bring on pace and creativity later on in the game. Anya generally terrifies defences when he comes on as a sub. Hopefully Adomah has a bad game otherwise we might even see Mitch reappear!!
I really hope we start with Deeney, Ighalo and Vydra again as I think this would have and was working well had we not had the sending off on Friday. Want us to go out positively and take the game to them. Abdi should be on the bench at best as we normally seem to rush him back before he is ready. I really believe we can win and normally I am about as pessimistic as it gets!
Anything less than a win will put us on the back foot for the rest of the season .And i dont fancy the play offs middlesbrough will be happy with a draw , plus us being on sky i fear for a 0-0 draw . i did warn everyone that i was coming and results would not be good the games i have seen on this trip is 1 win 2 draws 1 lost 5points out of poss 12 . so my prodiction for the last 5 games is 4 wins and 1 draw That will give us 87 pts and i think 2ond spot.
A Watford win for me too. Although we have struggled against teams who come and defend in numbers as I think Middlesbrough will, however they're not good up front. With our three strikers we should be too good for them.
