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Watford - Sunderland
England Championship - Vicarage Road
Tom Cleverley's first match as full-time Watford manager will take place against Sunderland this weekend after the 34-year-old passed his interim audition with flying colours. The Hornets have only lost once since the former Man Utd player took charge at the beginning of March and he will want to send the fans home happy for the summer ahead of next season.
In preparation for their match against the black cats, check out our Watford vs Sunderland prediction.
Contents
Watford vs Sunderland prediction: Don't expect a classic
🔥Hot tip
Watford to win
⚽ Correct score prediction
Watford 1-0 Sunderland
💎 Watford to keep a clean sheet
Yes
Key stats
- Watford have lost just one of the seven matches that Tom Cleverley has taken charge of.
- Sunderland have won just one of their last five matches.
- Watford have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four Championship matches.
Pre-game odds and win probability: All three results are on the table
- HOME: 11/8 (2.38) – 42.1%
- DRAW: 23/10 (3.30) – 30.3%
- AWAY: 2/1 (3.00) – 33.3%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The Watford vs Sunderland odds suggest that this is a match that could go either way. Watford are the slight favourites but despite being the home side, they have still been priced greater than evens which tells us that the Bookies aren't overly sold on the Cleverley revolution.
Cleverley was given the job on a full-time basis earlier this week and a big reason for that has been how he has made the Hornet tough to beat and incredibly solid from a defensive point of view. When you put that strength against the fact that Sunderland have failed to score in three of their last four outings, this looks like a fantastic fixture for the home side.
Sunderland have also been good at the back recently, though, with five clean sheets in their last seven so a 0-0 result should also be considered a strong possibility.
Extra free betting tips for Watford vs Sunderland:
- Both teams to score, No – 10/11 (1.91)
- Under 2.5 goals – 3/4 (1.75)
Looking at the last five meetings between Watford and Sunderland, the Black Cats will the happier of the two sides. They are unbeaten in their last three matches against Watford and they have won two of the last five. Watford's only success in the last five H2Hs came back in 2017 when both teams were in the Premier League.
England Championship 04/10/23
Sunderland
Watford
England Championship 29/04/23
Sunderland
Watford
England Championship 17/09/22
Watford
Sunderland
England Premier League 01/04/17
Watford
Sunderland
England Premier League 17/12/16
Sunderland
Watford
Watford preview: The dawn of another new era
Tom Cleverley could elect to play the same team to start his full-time era as the one he picked to end his interim stint. Watford drew 0-0 with high-flying Hull City last weekend and they defended well. Mileta Rajovic could earn a start as Cleverley still searches for answers to the attacking conundrum.
Predicted lineup: Bachmann (GK), Porteous, Sierralta, Hoedt, Andrews, Kone, Kayembe, Lewis, Bayo, Asprilla, Rajovic
England Championship 01/09/24
L
Sheff Utd
1
Watford
0
England EFL Cup 27/08/24
W
Plymouth
0
Watford
2
England Championship 24/08/24
W
Derby
1
Watford
2
England Championship 17/08/24
W
Stoke
0
Watford
3
England EFL Cup 13/08/24
W
Milton Keynes Dons
0
Watford
5
Sunderland preview: Looking to finish the season with a flurry
Sunderland are nearing the end of a campaign where they will probably feel as if they underperformed. Temporary manager, Mike Dodds, has steadied the ship somewhat since taking the reigns despite rarely having a full squad to pick from. On Saturday, he is without six first-team players including Dennis Cirkin.
Predicted lineup: Patterson (GK), O'Nien, Ballard, Alese, Pembele, Ekwah, Bellingham, Styles, Mundle, Clarke, Semedo
England Championship 31/08/24
W
Portsmouth
1
Sunderland
3
England Championship 24/08/24
W
Burnley
0
Sunderland
1
England Championship 18/08/24
W
Sheff Wed
0
Sunderland
4
England EFL Cup 13/08/24
L
Preston
2
Sunderland
0
England Championship 10/08/24
W
Cardiff
0
Sunderland
2
Player to watch: Daniel Bachmann
Watford goalkeeper, Daniel Bachmann, is building a reputation for himself between the sticks and there is a feeling that the Hornets will have to progress next season if they are to keep hold of him.
Clean sheet king
Bachmann has three clean sheets in his last four appearances and is second only to Illan Meslier in terms of clean sheet percentage this season. The big Austrian will feel another clean sheet is on the cards on Saturday against a Sunderland forward line lacking in confidence.
