Watford vs Preston prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-03-03 15:00.
After spending a great deal of this Championship season in the top six, a run of just one win from Watford’s last seven league games (W1, D4, L2) has seen them rejoin the chasing pack. Hornets boss Slaven Bilić said his side were “unlucky” to lose 1-0 via an own goal against Sheffield United in their last outing, but they’ll need to make their own luck if they’re to realise their aim of promotion.
A Vicarage Road return could prove fruitful in that pursuit as they’re yet to lose there in 2023 (W2, D2) despite falling behind within the opening 30 minutes in two of their last three home league games. Perhaps inspiring confidence in extending that solid home record could be Watford’s run of six unbeaten games across their last seven meetings with mid-table Preston North End (W3, D3, L1).
Although Preston began this round in 12th place, they’re just four points adrift of Watford, so a late play-off push could yet be mounted if they can build a head of steam. Lilywhites boss Ryan Lowe was pleased with their midweek showing in a goalless draw with Coventry despite “lacking a little bit of quality in the final third”, a statement which is backed up by the numbers.
Preston are the lowest scoring Championship side placed 20th or higher ahead of this round, with a paltry 30-goal return often placing the burden on their backline. To be fair to Preston’s defence, they’ve recently picked up the slack on the road this season with eight away clean sheets representing both a joint league-high and the club’s best return in the second-tier since 2005/06, a season in which they finished fourth.
Key battle: Ken Sema’s four goals this season have helped Watford gain seven points, but his seven league assists is notably the most by a Hornets player in one season since Troy Deeney in 2015/16. Trying to thwart him will be Preston’s Jordan Storey, but the tough-tackling centre-back will have to remain cautious after collecting eight league yellow cards.
Hot stat: Preston’s Championship games away from home are averaging 1.5 second-half goals per match, compared with an average of 0.63 per game prior to half-time.