Norwich vs Watford prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-02-12 19:45.
A draw against strugglers QPR at the weekend saw Norwich lose ground in the Championship play-off race, leaving them two points off the pace. Having trailed at one stage in west London, the Canaries were at least able to extend their recent good run to one defeat in six league games (W3, D2), with their 11-point haul over those six fixtures a higher tally than anyone else outside the play-offs.
Unbeaten in seven league games at home (W5, D2), David Wagner’s side will be delighted to be back at Carrow Road, where they can make it three home league wins in a row for the second time this season. If they do achieve that, then they will also avenge their 3-2 defeat against Watford in November’s reverse fixture when they led 2-0 after 12 minutes. That was their third straight loss in this H2H and their eighth defeat in nine games against the team from Hertfordshire, so Wagner will know that victory here will be no easy task.
Watford could well outrun their outsider odds here then, especially as they’ve picked up more points away from home this season (21) than they have at Vicarage Road (20), and in a game fewer! Now unbeaten in their last seven Championship away games (W4, D3), the last Hornets’ side to go on a similar run (nine games) would go on to get promoted in 2014/15!
Drawing 11 league games this season has held them back, along with their relatively poor home form, so Valérien Ismaël and his side may be pleased to be on the road again as they look to improve on a poor recent run of one win in their last eight Championship games (D4, L3). A narrow defeat at home to runaway league leaders Leicester this past weekend made it two straight Championship defeats and another loss here could leave the Hornets nine points off the play-offs and destined for mid-table mediocrity.
Key battle: Josh Sargent has scored in his last four home league games for Norwich, and has three goals in four career appearances against Watford – his joint-highest tally against any opponent. Up against him, Hornets goalkeeper Ben Hamer has the third-best save percentage in the division, but is yet to keep a clean sheet against Norwich.
Hot stat: Watford have won eight of their last 11 visits to Carrow Road (L3), including victories in each of the last four, further highlighting their recent dominance in this fixture.