Crystal Palace VS Watford Match Prediction
2020-03-07
15:00:00
Crystal Palace
VS
Watford
Our Prediction Tip
Watford will win this match.
2020-03-0715:00:00 Watford will win this match.
Victory for Crystal Palace would be their 50th in all competitions against Watford, but they have not won any of the last five meetings – including three 2-1 defeats last season. This year’s only previous meeting ended in a goalless draw at Vicarage Road, however – one of Hayden Mullins’ two matches in caretaker charge of the Hornets.
Here are the results of their last five competitive meetings:
Dec 07, 2019: Watford 0-0 Crystal Palace
Mar 16, 2019: Watford 2-1 Crystal Palace
Jan 12, 2019: Crystal Palace 1-2 Watford
Aug 26, 2018: Watford 2-1 Crystal Palace
Apr 21, 2018: Watford 0-0 Crystal Palace
Ismaila Sarr’s double and Troy Deeney’s goal were celebrated beyond Vicarage Road last time out, as Liverpool’s unbeaten run was ended and the league leaders were denied the chance of an invincible season.
The Hornets stunned the Reds with a committed performance that has wrested back some momentum in the battle to avoid the drop.
Nigel Pearson has pulled off a great escape before – keeping Leicester in the Premier League against the odds, the season before they became league champions.
If he can keep Watford up now too, it would be remarkable – but the chance is there to seize some initiative and put a winning run together now.
It was not just the win but the nature of it, and the winning margin, which should give Watford confidence as they travel to Selhurst Park.
While the two teams were goalless last time they met, Watford have now gone five matches unbeaten in this fixture too.
Wildly inconsistent Crystal Palace’s two back-to-back wins in their lats two games should not be discounted – particularly as they both brought clean sheets too.
But their overall form continues to frustrate fans and Watford know that, if they can get on the front foot, they can make it two wins from two.
Crystal Palace are favourites with the bookmakers and can be backed at a best price of 13/8 to win with Betfair, but Watford proved last week they should not be bet against. The Hornets are 39/20 to win with 888sport.
While they won to nil last time out, as did Palace, their last three wins in this fixture have all been 2-1. Consequently, both teams to score at 10/11 with Bet365, 888sport, Betway and 10Bet looks tempting.
Palace’s last two games have produced a goal apiece, but over 2.5 goals in this match – given the above – is 5/4 with Betfair.
Ismaila Sarr scored twice against Liverpool, and he is a best price of 10/3 with Betfair and Paddy Power.
There is a danger this could be a bit ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ for Watford, but Nigel Pearson knows the importance of momentum in the fight against relegation and the Hornets can seize that now.
Jeffrey Schlupp is close to a return to training but is not yet fully fit, while James Tomkins is still absent with a thigh injury. Cenk Tosun has suffered an ACL injury and so Christian Benteke will lead the line, while James McCarthy was taken off last weekend too. Mamadou Sakho is back in contention, however.
Jordan Ayew – His winning goal against Brighton last time out was his seventh goal of the Premier League season – he is Palace’s top scorer.
Wilfried Zaha – Scored three goals so far this season but capable of so much more up front, as he has proved all too briefly this season.
Gary Cahill – The former England defender has helped Palace to back-to-back clean sheets. If they’re not scoring at one end, they need to be keeping it tight at the other.
After a run of one win in 12 matches in all competitions, Crystal Palace have got back on track with a pair of 1-0 wins to close out February. In the first of those, Patrick van Aanholt scored the only goal against ten-man Newcastle, before Jordan Ayew’s strike sealed derby victory at Brighton & Hove Albion last time out.
While overshadowed by Watford’s stunning win, Gerard Deulofeu is out for the season after suffering an ACL injury against Liverpool last weekend. He joins Daryl Janmaat, recovering after knee surgery, on the sidelines. Roberto Pereyra in for Deulofeu could be the only Watford change.
Troy Deeney – Set up the second goal and scored the third, causing problems with his physicality up front against Liverpool.
Ismaila Sarr – Two goals and an assist against Liverpool wrote his name into last weekend’s headlines as the Hornets beat the league leaders.
Abdoulaye Doucoure – Previously showed good goalscoring form in attacking midfield and added an assist in the win against Liverpool.
Watford’s win against Liverpool ended their six-game winless run in all competitions and came just a week after a 3-0 loss to Manchester United. Against the below-par league leaders, however, Ismaila Sarr scored twice and Troy Deeney added a third in a 3-0 Watford win.
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