Watfordvs.Preston

As for the home side, they have recently put together a three-match unbeaten run, putting Tom Cleverley in contention to keep the job on a permanent basis.

Match preview

With Watford having only won one of 12 matches before he was placed in interim charge, some will feel that Cleverley has a free shot to impress until the end of the campaign.

Nevertheless, credit is due on the back of five points being accumulated from three matches against Birmingham City, Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion.

The return should probably have been better, with the Hornets leading both of the contests against Leeds and the Baggies, yet Watford's efforts have all but ended any small concerns regarding a relegation scrap.

Trips to Ipswich Town and Southampton follow this game, highlighting how it was potentially pivotal that points were collected in the previous games.

That particularly rings true when Watford have still failed to win a Championship home fixture since November 28, a run stretching 10 games.

Meanwhile, Preston are under pressure to show that they have learned from the mistakes made during last season's run-in as they missed out on the playoffs.

The form of Ryan Lowe's side will have done little to ease any concerns with the supporters, a result of defeats being recorded against Stoke City and Birmingham City respectively.

In between, North End got the better of struggling Plymouth Argyle and Rotherham United, yet the loss at Birmingham has now left their playoff fate out of their hands.

Preston also have a schedule that still includes the likes of Norwich City, Southampton, Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion, raising the pressure of delivering three points in fixtures such as this one when they are now five points behind sixth place.

Watford Championship form:

L

D

L

W

D

D

Preston North End Championship form:

W

D

L

W

W

L

Team News

Yaser Asprilla and Mileta Rajovic are both pushing for recalls to the Watford XI in the final third.

Despite failing to see out victory at The Hawthorns, the remainder of the team could plausibly stay the same.

This game is expected to come too soon for the likes of Jeremy Ngakia and Ken Sema.

Several alterations could be made to the Preston starting lineup with Alan Browne potentially being restored at wing-back or in central midfield after illness.

Milutin Osmajic could get the nod over Will Keane, while Liam Millar may return in a wide area, but Brad Potts, Ryan Ledson and Ched Evans are all likely to miss out.

Watford possible starting lineup:

Bachmann; Porteous, Sierralta, Hoedt; Andrews, Kayembe, Dele-Bashiru, Lewis; Asprilla; Rajovic, Dennis

Preston North End possible starting lineup:

Woodman; Whatmough, Lindsay, Hughes; Millar, McCann, Browne, Brady; Frokjaer-Jensen; Osmajic, Riis

We say: Watford 2-1 Preston North End

On the back of losing to Birmingham, Preston's belief may have been impacted in the short term, and facing an improving Watford side has come at the wrong time. We feel that the Hornets could do enough to edge this contest by the odd goal in three, helped by a fast start to the contest.

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