Watford will set out to continue their push for a playoff place by securing consecutive wins for the first time this season when Preston come visiting Vicarage Road.
Despite a six-place difference between the teams in the Championship table, they are only separated by three points heading into Tuesday's encounter.
Contents
- 1 Watford vs Preston prediction: Hornets to secure hard-fought triumph
- 2 Most recent H2Hs: One win in six for Watford
- 3 Watford preview: Kwadwo Baah a huge doubt after hobbling off against Derby
- 4 Preston preview: Osmajic and Whiteman's suspensions add to growing list of absentees
- 5 Player to watch – Imran Louza
Watford vs Preston prediction: Hornets to secure hard-fought triumph
Key stats
- Both Watford and Preston have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last three outings.
- The hosts are unbeaten in their last four matches, while the visitors' recent defeat to Blackburn saw them lose for the first time in five outings.
- Five of Watford's last six games have ended with both teams scoring; the same can be said for all but one of Preston's last five affairs.
Correct score prediction: Watford 2-1 Preston
Given how closely matched the teams are, there is little to choose between them, so Tuesday's clash could easily swing in either direction.
That said, Watford have more onus to seize control of proceedings, and we are leaning towards a narrow win for the home side.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Odds in hosts' favour
- HOME: 21/20 (2.05) – 48.8%
- DRAW: 9/4 (3.25) – 30.8%
- AWAY: 11/4 (3.75) –26.7%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Only Coventry (20) have picked up more points in home matches than Watford (17) this term, and a 48.8% win probability hints at another successful home outing for Javi Gracia's men.
Tuesday's hosts will still be feeling pumped from their 3-2 victory over Derby County last time out, where they recovered from a two-goal deficit with three goals in the final 30 minutes.
Despite losing just one of their last five away games, Preston are underdogs for their upcoming encounter, as shown by a 26.7% chance of coming out on top.
Paul Heckingbottom's men were narrowly defeated by Blackburn Rovers on Friday, bringing an end to their four-game unbeaten streak since October 24.
For more from the upcoming matches, today’s free football betting tips look at some of the best picks.
Most recent H2Hs: One win in six for Watford
Watford were beaten home and away by a combined score of 5-1 in last season's league meetings against Preston after managing four points from a possible six in the 2023-24 campaign.
Their only triumph in the last six editions of this fixture came back in December 2023, when the Hornets responded superbly to going behind with a 5-1 victory.
England Championship 21/01/25
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England Championship 02/10/24
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Watford
England Championship 06/04/24
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Preston
England Championship 16/12/23
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England Championship 04/03/23
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Watford preview: Kwadwo Baah a huge doubt after hobbling off against Derby
Baah lasted just 35 minutes in Watford's most recent outing, during which he had to come off with an injury and was subsequently replaced by Nestory Irankunda.
Alongside Caleb Wiley, who is down with a muscle problem, Baah's involvement is hanging in the balance, while Jack Grieves (ankle) and Giorgi Chakvetadze (foot) are guaranteed absentees.
Predicted lineup: Selvik(GK), Nhakia, Keben, Pollock, Bola, Louza, Kayembe, Kyprianou, Irankunda, Doumbia & Kjerrumgaard
Watford's last five matches:
- Derby 2-3 Watford (Championship)
- Watford 1-1 Bristol City (Championship)
- Ipswich 1-1 Watford (Championship)
- Watford 3-0 Middlesbrough (Championship)
- Coventry 3-1 Watford (Championship)
Preston preview: Osmajic and Whiteman's suspensions add to growing list of absentees
Milutin Osmajic and Benjamin Whiteman are both ineligible to feature for Preston here, with the former serving a nine-game ban for racially abusing Hannibal Mejbri, while their latter is suspended for one game due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Preston are already without a host of players due to injury, with Robbie Brady, Lewis Gibson, Ali McCann, Brad Potts and Andrija Vukcevic all currently sidelined.
Predicted lineup: Iversen(GK), Hughes, Lindsay, Storey, Small, Armstrong, Devine, Thordarson, Offiah, Smith & Dobbin
Preston's last five matches:
- Preston 1-2 Blackburn (Championship)
- Millwall 1-1 Preston (Championship)
- Preston 2-1 Swansea (Championship)
- Southampton 0-2 Preston (Championship)
- Preston 3-2 Sheffield United (Championship)
Player to watch – Imran Louza
After managing just two league goals throughout the entire 2024-25 season, Louza have evolved into an attacking force for Watford this term.
The midfielder has scored or assisted in each of his last six matches for Watford, supplying four goals and two assists in that span.
Behind only Brandon Thomas-Asante and Anis Mehmeti for direct goal contributions among all Championship players, Louza will be seeking to deliver another stellar display for his side.