WATFORD v DERBY From this link - Watford midfielder Almen Abdi is available for the visit of leaders Derby. The Switzerland international has been sidelined since he was forced off with a shoulder injury against Nottingham Forest last month, but he has resumed full training over the last fortnight. Defender Gabriele Angella could also be added to the squad after recovering from the ankle injury which has sidelined him since September. That leaves Gabriel Tamas (cruciate) as the Hornets' only injury absentee, while Lewis McGugan has joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan. Jamie Ward, Zak Whitbread and Lee Grant will remain sidelined for Derby. Forward Ward is recovering from a thigh injury, while defender Whitbread has been struggling with back and hamstring problems. Goalkeeper Grant (ankle) will also miss out again so Jack Butland, whose loan from Stoke was this week extended by seven days to cover the trip to Vicarage Road, will continue between the posts. Meanwhile, the Rams will check on Simon Dawkins when he returns from international duty. The forward has played three games for Jamaica, helping them win the Caribbean Cup. "Both Granty and Wardy are doing okay and they should be training next week," Derby head coach Steve McClaren told local reporters at his press conference on Thursday. "We're waiting for him (Dawkins) to come back today (Thursday) and train tomorrow (Friday) - and we will see how he is." ENJOY THE GAME - COMMENTS WELCOME COYH COYH COYH !! Hope we nail them but somehow doubt it. P.S. Not sure as to why I got the thread title the wrong way round, but we are playing at home versus the Dutch accented wolly with his brolly.
Thanks for the fab thread Mex Not feeling altogether confident about this one but if Abdi plays there is hope which leads me to think that maybe we are a one man team which we're not but we definitely struggle without him. I'm going for 3-1, I just hope it's our 3!
Match day is here again. I am really hoping for three points although I expect it to be far from easy. Looking at the Derby fans views, they think this could be one of the hardest games of the season for them. Weather forecast for Watford: Rain is likely to become more widespread during the afternoon, and locally heavy. I bet they will still water the pitch! Thanks for the thread Mex. I hope to add to it this afternoon.
For some unknown reason, I'm confident about winning this one. Maybe I'm thinking we can't lose three in a row, maybe it's having a virtually a full squad to pick from. I just don't think we should be too 'scared' of Derby. I'm going for the classic Hornette 3-1 with Derby scoring first, then us storming back!
Derby Team: Butland; Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth; Hendrick, Mascarell, Hughes; Ibe, Martin, Russell. Derby Subs: Roos, Buxton, Eustace, Coutts, Bryson, Dawkins and Best.
Watford: Bond (GK); Paredes, Ekstrand, Bassong, Doyley; Andrews, Tozser; Dyer, Forestieri, Ighalo; Deeney
Heurelho Gomes misses out as a precaution with tendonitis, Pudil was out with a fitness coach before the warm up. That is a strange looking team.
I said 3-1 earlier...however the team does look a bit odd...hopefully Forestieri and Dyer will provide enough pace and service for Deeney and Ighalo to get on the end of.
