Plymouth vs Watford prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-12-31 15:00.
Plymouth Argyle’s 2-1 Championship defeat to Southampton was their first since manager Steven Schumacher left to join Stoke (D2), but at least they’ll end 2023 clear of the relegation zone. As work to bring in a new boss continues, they’ll want to improve a record of one win across their last six league fixtures (D3, L2) if they are to make 2024 a year to remember.
That said, the Pilgrims have become one of the league’s most consistent sides on their own turf, as they’re unbeaten across their last six Championship fixtures at Home Park (W4, D2), scoring at least twice in each of those games. And with all seven of their league wins this season coming here (D2, L3), they’ve every right to be looking forward to hosting Watford for the first time since 2009.
The visitors have had a post-Christmas period to forget as they were beaten 4-1 by Bristol City on Boxing Day before drawing 1-1 with Stoke three days later. After making several changes, manager Valérien Ismaël said he was proud of his team after playing most of the second half with ten men, and that’s something they’ve become accustomed too given only Blackburn, QPR and Rotherham closed the year with more Championship red cards this term than Watford’s three.
As two of those were received on the road, discipline could become important for the Hornets as they push to move closer to the play-off positions. Although they haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last four league away games (W3, L1), they’ve won their last three by scoring an average of three goals per game, so they should arrive in Devon in good spirits.
Players to watch: Ryan Hardie’s strike for Plymouth against Southampton was his seventh league goal of the season, all of them arriving after the 50th minute. Similarly, Watford’s Rhys Healey, once of Plymouth’s rivals Torquay, has seen his last six competitive goals hit the net after the 70th minute.
Hot stat: Plymouth have won four of their last five league fixtures held on New Year’s Day (L1).