Watford vs Birmingham prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-09-15 14:00.
The hopes and dreams of a Premier League return must have been flowing through the minds of many a Watford fan after their 4-0 demolition of QPR in the opening weekend. That must now seem like a lifetime ago, largely because the Hornets haven’t won a game in any competition since (D2, L3). Watford boss Valérien Ismaël watched his side take the lead three times only to draw 3-3 against Coventry in the last round, so defensive work may have been prioritised during the break.
Given that Ismaël is the tenth man to oversee the Hornets since the turn of the decade, the itchy trigger fingers of the Watford board may begin to wiggle if their barren run lasts any longer. Yet with three clean sheets across their last four home games (W2, D1, L1), and ten unanswered goals scored across five consecutive home wins against Birmingham, this could be the perfect opportunity to bounce back.
Doing so against this Blues side will be easier said than done, as the visitors are enjoying their finest start to a Championship season (W3, D2) since 2015/16, the last season in which they achieved a top-half finish. Birmingham boss John Eustace praised the “character” of his side for coming back from adversity in a 1-1 draw prior to the international break, which was the first time they’ve fallen behind in league action all season.
Birmingham’s hopes may well be high of ending their barren run in Hertfordshire after scoring first in all three of their competitive away games this season (W2, D1). Another road win would really be rarely charted territory for Birmingham, as they’ve not stitched together a run of three consecutive competitive away wins since September to October 2015!
Players to watch: Imran Louza scored and assisted in Watford’s only league win of the season so far and he could get that winning feeling back if he can replicate his stunning performance in the corresponding H2H last season (G1, A1). As for Birmingham, Jay Stansfield has well and truly hit the ground running since making the loan switch from Fulham, scoring crucial goals in both of his Championship appearances.
Hot stat: Birmingham are the only club that Watford boss Ismaël has a 100% win-rate against after at least three personal meetings (W3).