Southampton vs Watford prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-04-12 14:00.
[p]Still holding two games in hand on the two sides above them, Southampton are just about alive in the race for automatic promotion and an immediate return to the Premier League. In a week where the three sides above them all dropped points, Russell Martin’s men capitalised with a timely 2-1 win over Coventry on Tuesday that left them ten points adrift of second-placed Ipswich.[/p]
[p]Martin said the win “will release a lot of tension”, which had understandably built up after three games without a victory (D2, L1). He’ll now be hoping his side can keep the pressure on the teams above them starting with this clash against mid-table Watford – a side they have lost to just twice since 2009 (W9, D8)![/p]
[p]Interestingly, this will be the fourth H2H between the sides since early December, with Watford suffering a 3-0 defeat on this ground for an FA Cup replay in early February. That was under previous manager Valérien Ismaël and came during a torrid run of six defeats in seven, a slide which has been halted by the interim appointment of Tom Cleverley, who is yet to experience a defeat since taking charge (W1, D4).[/p]
[p]Those four draws have come in consecutive matches, but with all coming against sides starting the round in the top-eight, it might hint that the side have taken a step forward under the new coach. That includes Wednesday’s 0-0 draw away at the division’s top scorers Ipswich, marking a third clean sheet in five games, something which Cleverley described as “a solid foundation moving forward.” [/p]
[p]Key battle: Ché Adams has scored a first-half goal in two of Southampton’s last three games, and he’s bound to be buzzing to face the Hornets having tormented them this season (G2, A2). Looking to stop him is Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann who is targeting a third successive clean sheet, and will be keen to perform on his return to St Mary’s where he suffered concussion during the FA Cup replay defeat in February.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Watford haven’t been behind at half-time in any of their last six games.[/p]