Boreham WoodBoreham Woodvs.Watford

While the Championship side have already played a game ahead of 2024-25, their National League South hosts will be participating in their first fixture under new management.

Match preview

Having suitably impressed during his interim run in charge at the back end of last season, Tom Cleverley is leading Watford into what everyone hopes will be a successful new era.

A 15th-placed finish in the Championship was deemed as unacceptable by the club's board, and the Englishman will be expected to move the club closer to the playoffs.

As it stands, three new players have arrived through the door at Vicarage Road in goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, young playmaker Rocco Vata and forward Mamadou Doumbia.

The big-money sale of Ismael Kone to Marseille will also free up funds for further additions to be made in due course, there being plenty of reason for optimism among the fanbase.

However, Watford did succumb to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Reading in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Boreham are beginning a new era themselves with Ross Jenkins having been appointed as the new permanent head coach.

Jenkins, who began his playing his career at Watford, arrives after a two-year stint with Oxford City, who he got promoted to the National League for the first time in their history before relegation last season.

After such a desperately-disappointing 2023-24, Jenkins is tasked with delivering an immediate bounce-back promotion, with three signings having already been made.

Charlie O'Connell has joined from Peterborough United, as have Josh Hare and Johnny Goddard from Dagenham & Redbridge and Slough Town respectively.

Watford friendly form:

L

Team News

With Watford having not revealed their selection for the Reading game, it is unclear how many first-team players will feature in this contest.

Yaser Asprilla is a definite absentee courtesy of representing Colombia at the Copa America, while Ryan Porteous was with Scotland at Euro 2024.

As for Boreham Wood, Jenkins is likely to hand minutes to as many of his first-team options as possible, potentially naming separate teams for each 45 minutes.

We say: Boreham Wood 1-4 Watford

Much will depend on the quality that features in the Watford ranks, yet we cannot ignore that the Hornets have already gotten a game under their belts. While Boreham Wood may be able to get a consolation goal at some point, the visitors should come through in comfortable fashion.

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