Hour of truth for the Hornets
Last summer Watford and Norwich were promoted together from the Championship to the Premier League. For a long time, it looked as if only the Hornets would be able to re-establish themselves in the upper echelons of English football, while the Canaries were heading unchecked towards relegation for much of the season. However, there is now only one point between the two teams.
While the Premier League table is still skewed after several match cancellations, the Hornets have two games less than their visitors. In the event of a home defeat, the Hornets still face the threat of falling into a direct relegation place. However, in the run-up to the match between Watford and Norwich, the odds are swinging in the direction of the home side.
It is true that the Honets have won the last five meetings against Norwich City. However, the Canaries have won two of their last three competitive matches and have shown renewed vigour following a coaching change just over two months ago. Accordingly, the relegation battle in Herfordshire could be a hot one.
We see the greatest value in Watford vs Norwich in betting that both teams will score.
Watford – Statistics & current form
Since the formation of the Premier League in the 1990s, Watford Football Club have spent a total of six seasons in the top flight of English football. However, the Hornets only managed to stay in the league for the long term between 2015 and 2019, before returning to the Championship after four consecutive seasons.
However, the Herfordshire club promptly escaped the Championship last summer and the Golden Boys are currently in their seventh season in the country’s top flight.
Winless in seven straight league games
The Hornets, who have been coached by Leicester champions Claudio Ranieri since October, have systematically slipped down the table after a strong start to the season. The promoted team has yet to finish a matchday in a direct relegation spot.
However, with only one point separating them from today’s visitors from the east of England, a home defeat could be the first time this has happened. This match is accordingly groundbreaking for the Golden Boys, who at least scored again away at Newcastle after losing six league games in a row (1-1). However, it was the only one of a possible 21 points from the last seven league games.
The defender is away at the Africa Cup
The strong record against the Canaries nevertheless means the Hornets go into this important home game at Vicarage Road favoured.
The fact that William Troost-Ekong, the Ranieri side’s most reliable defender, is currently away at the Africa Cup, along with Adam Masina and Imrân Louza, does not make it any easier for the Hornets to gain some breathing space in this basement clash.
Predicted Watford line-up:
Foster – Kamara – Samir – Cathcart – Ngakia – Kucka – Kayembe – Sissoko – Pedro – Dennis – King
Last matches played by Watford:
Premier League
01/15 2022 – Newcastle United 1 – 1 Watford
FA Cup
01/08 2022 – Leicester 4 – 1 Watford
Premier League
01/01 2022 – Watford 0 – 1 Tottenham
12/28 2021 – Watford 1 – 4 West Ham
12/10 2021 – Brentford 2 – 1 Watford
Norwich – Statistics & current form
Norwich City are commonly regarded as a lift team in England. Known as the Canaries for their neon-coloured kits, they have been relegated five times since the Premier League was founded. That equates to the Premier League’s shared negative record with West Brom Albion.
If relegation number six were to be added this summer, the team from the east of England would even be the sole relegated team. A dubious honour that should be avoided at all costs.
First ever 18th place in the 2021/22 season
In order to somehow regain the upper hand after a completely screwed-up season so far – Norwich finished 16 of the previous 22 matchdays at the bottom of the table – an experienced coach was introduced in Dean Smith in November.
The Canaries did indeed turn the corner under the 50-year-old. After last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Everton FC, the East English side climbed to 18th place for the first time in the 2021/22 season and are now within reach of the safety net. Only one point is currently missing on the direct competitor Watford.
Dean Smith can draw from a full complement
If the Canaries win away to Watford against Norwich, the promoted side would be above the line for the first time in the entire season, which would undoubtedly release further energy.
The East Anglians, who are one of the very few Premier League teams not to have any players on loan for the ongoing Africa Cup, are likely to be in a correspondingly good frame of mind. With only two other players out injured, Dean Smith will be able to draw almost completely on his strengths and field a strong team at Vicarage Road. At the very least, the Canaries can definitely be trusted to score the away goal.
Predicted line-up of Norwich:
Krul – Williams – Gibson – Hanley – Aarons – Rashica – Lees-Melou – Sörensen – Sargent – Pukki – Idah
Last matches played by Norwich:
Premier League
01/15 2022 – Norwich 2 – 1 Everton
01/12 2022 – West Ham 2 – 0 Norwich
FA Cup
01/09 2022 – Charlton 0 – 1 Norwich
Premier League
12/28 2021 – Crystal Palace 3 – 0 Norwich
12/26 2021 – Norwich 0 – 5 Arsenal London
Watford – Norwich Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
Head to head: 32 – 29 – 42
There have been a total of 103 meetings between the two teams so far and Norwich lead the direct comparison with 42 victories. At least recently, however, the duel has been clearly in the hands of the Hornets, who have won the last five encounters in a row by 9:2 goals.
Watford – Norwich Tip
When it comes to Watford against Norwich, our prediction is by no means as clearly in the direction of the home side as the odds offered by the bookmakers generally suggest. It is true that the Hornets have had a knack for the Canaries recently, against whom there have been five wins in a row. However, Watford have now picked up just one point out of a possible 21 from their last seven league games, while Norwich were just coming off a 2-1 home win over Everton at the weekend.
While it remains difficult to bet on the winner of this potentially very poisonous relegation battle. However, because both teams have a lot at stake, we expect a lot of action. In this respect, betting on goals on both sides is a good idea.
