Team News

Liam Ridgewell  misses out because of a hamstring strain. Pablo Ibanez and club captain Stephen Carr also remain sidelined and Guirane N’Daw is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.  Jean Beausejour and David Murphy will be checked after nutting each other on Wednesday night.

Watford midfielder Jonathan Hogg will have a fitness test on his knee after missing last week’s defeat at Reading.

Reverse Fixture

The two teams met at Vicarage Road over the August Bank Holiday weekend and the game ended 2-2. Blues thought they had won it after Chris Wood had added to Adam Rooney’s earlier goal in the 88th minute but former Blue Martin Taylor equalised for Watford in injury time.

Recent Form

Blues sit seventh and are unbeaten in the league since before Christmas. They have won three of their last four league games scoring twelve goals in the process.

Watford are eighteenth with one win from the last six league games. They have won away from home only twice all season the last time being 3rd December. They have managed only nine goals in their twelve away games so far.

Outlook

Well what a week it has been. Firstly we broke our away win drought in style against Millwall and then we progressed in the cup getting one over the Dingles in the progress. The Millwall game was a bit of a freak result but the away win and the boost to our goal difference was very welcome. With tougher home games to come in the coming months we cannot continue to rely on fortress St Andrews so away points are vital. With all due respect to tomorrow’s opponents I don’t include them in the ‘tougher games’ category.

With our recent form and Watford’s lack of punch away from home you would probably see this as a bit of a banker. However with so many games of late there’s probably a flat performance waiting to happen somewhere although other than against Blackpool we haven’t always been that great in this recent run. Watford won’t come with high expectations and with players being rested in midweek we should still have too much for them.

The team that Chris Hughton picks will be interesting as Jordon Mutch impressed against Wolves but was pulled off at half time against Millwall. Can we expect a recall for Keith Fahey and a return to four- four- two? King and Zigic should return but maybe Wade Elliot could keep his place if Jean Beausejour want to rest his aching head. Playing on the left is not his best position though.  The defence should be unchanged as they are basically the only fit senior defenders we have.  I have been impressed with Colin Doyle in the FA Cup matches but Boaz Myhil is the number one and should retain his place as long as he doesn’t make another howler like at the end of the previous meeting with Watford.

In my last two match previews I have predicted a goal fest in the FA Cup and a tight low scoring draw against Millwall.  So please ignore the below and feel free to add your own predicitons in the comments.

My prediction 2-0

C’mon you Blue Boys.

@Aylesbury_Blue