Preview: Swansea City vs. Watford - prediction, team news, lineups

A loss to Millwall on Boxing Day saw the visitors fall 10 points behind the top two in the Championship table, while their hosts find themselves 16th and in the midst of an eight-game winless run in England's second tier.

Match preview

After an eye-catching run of Championship form across September and October, Swansea City now find themselves deep in a slump, having not managed a victory in eight attempts since.

Russell Martin's men did climb as high as fourth spot, but they have since dropped quickly dropped down the division, playing out four draws around a defeat going into the World Cup break.

On their return to action, the Swans have been unable to make a much-needed return to winning ways, as they were firstly beaten 1-0 at home to Norwich City before at least snatching a point in dramatic fashion against Coventry City, as they went 3-0 down before Joel Piroe, Jay Fulton and Liam Cullen got on the scoresheet in the final 25 minutes to force a share of the spoils.

Hoping to build on that comeback and turn their form around, Martin's men travelled to the Madejski Stadium to take on Reading on Tuesday, and they would again go two goals behind as Andy Carroll and Tom Ince got on the scoresheet for their hosts, and another Cullen goal 20 minutes from time was not enough to spark another revival as the Swans fell to another defeat.

Now in their longest winless run since dropping back down to the Championship in 2018 and having dropped to 16th spot with pressure likely growing on Martin, the Welsh outfit will be desperate to make a return to winning ways on Friday but face a particularly tough test at home to one of the league's leading sides.

Watford also arrive looking to bounce back to winning ways in the Championship after a Boxing Day defeat further damaged their position in the fight for an immediate promotion back to the Premier League.

Slaven Bilic had a mixed start to his tenure as Hornets manager after being appointed late in September, but they did go into the World Cup break having won four of their previous six league games and picking up 13 points.

Aiming to pick up where they left off and bridge the gap to leaders Burnley and Sheffield United, Watford returned to action with a home contest against Hull City, and they had to settle for a disappointing goalless draw, before bouncing back away at Huddersfield Town as Joao Pedro netted a second-half brace in a 2-0 triumph.

Then hoping to close the two-point gap to third-placed Blackburn Rovers and narrow the bigger gap to the top two, Bilic's men most recently welcomed Millwall to Vicarage Road on Monday, and the visitors took a 22nd-minute lead through Andreas Voglsammer, before the Hornets' task was made even tougher as Hassane Kamara was sent off late in the first half.

Zian Flemming would net a second for the Lions in the final 10 minutes to seal a 2-0 away victory, and with Watford now 10 points off the automatic promotion spots, they will be desperate to return to winning ways and build a run of results beginning on Friday.

Swansea City Championship form:

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Watford Championship form:

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Team News

Swansea City forward Michael Obafemi missed the trip to Reading through injury, and he is unlikely to return to full fitness in time to feature on Friday.

In his absence, the attacking responsibility will again fall on Joel Piroe, who has scored six league goals so far this season after hitting the net 22 times in the Championship last term.

Liam Cullen will likely be rewarded with a start in the front line after scoring in back-to-back matches, while Matt Grimes and Joe Allen should again partner up in the engine room with Harry Darling, Ben Cabango and Nathan Wood set to form the back three.

Watford have a long list of absentees to deal with, as the likes of Imran Louza, Tom Cleverley, Dan Gosling, Edo Kayembe and Hamza Choudhury are all set to remain out due to injuries, while full-back Hassane Kamara is suspended after his red card in their defeat to Millwall.

The lack of midfielders available for selection meant the Hornets brought in free agent Leandro Bacuna earlier in December, and he will again partner Tom Dele-Bashiru in the engine room.

Keinan Davis should again lead the line, with plenty of support from the likes of Ismaila Sarr and Joao Pedro, who boasts eight goals in 20 Championship appearances so far this term.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:

Benda; Wood, Darling, Cabango; Sorinola, Grimes, Allen, Manning; Fulton, Cullen; Piroe

Watford possible starting lineup:

Bachmann; Ngakia, Troost-Ekong, Cathcart, Kabasele; Dele-Bashiru, Bacuna; Sema, Pedro, Sarr; Davis

We say: Swansea City 1-2 Watford

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