Fulham VS Watford Match Prediction
- 2018-09-22
- 11:30:00
Watford will win this match.
Fulham and Watford will meet in the Premier League for the first time in over ten years when this match kicks off. Their only two recent fixtures against one another were in the Championship in 2014-15. Watford won 1-0 at home and 0-5 away in those matches. Overall, the Hornets have four wins and three draws in just ten matches against the Cottagers.
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Bet365 have the following odds available for this match:
Fulham are at 7/5 to win, a draw is at 12/5, and a Watford win is at 15/8.
Fulham come into match day six with some work cut out for them. The Cottagers have not been awful, but they haven't exactly set pulses racing as of yet, either. It is their defending that has been most suspect, and that is what has to be worked on. They have conceded at least twice to every side they have faced so far, showing just how difficult the jump up from the Championship is. They don't look all that overmatched as far as the front goes, but at the back they are in trouble. Watford will be a fine test after they've scored in all of their matches. It is early days, but Fulham are in 15th on four points currently, putting them just two above the bottom three.
Watford, even despite a loss against United last weekend, have started the season very, very well. 12 points out of a possible 15 after five weeks is superb from them, and that has them in fourth right now. It must be said that a finish there would be a major shock come season's end, but you just never know if they can kick on and use this as a platform. Leicester were able to do it a couple of seasons ago, so the Hornets are capable of doing something similar. Last week's loss to United was a tough one to take for them. They went two behind, but fought back and nearly grabbed a draw in the end. It's that kind of fight that will make matters quite difficult for their hosts this weekend.
Deeney to score anytime, via Betfair, is at 3.1 odds.
Both teams to score is at 6/10 for yes at Ladbrokes.
Fulham are no pushovers. We have seen that already. And they shouldn't be under a ton of pressure to go down. But they have defensive issues to sort out, and those will simply take too much time to see them get a result against a very good Watford side.
Slavisa Jokanovic can rule out having center back Tim Ream and attacking midfielders Tom Cairney and Neeskens Kebano for this match due to the trio still having injury issues to deal with.
Possession came at a premium last week, and Fulham just never got enough of it. Things should be better for them here, though, at least slightly, and that bodes well for Jean-Michael Seri. The rangy midfielder has the ability to influence play in both boxes with dynamic runs, good passing, and fine tackling. Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has four goals to his name so far, is one to watch if they can get him service.
Fulham have a loss, three wins, and a draw in their last five matches:
3-0 loss at Manchester City
1-0 home win vs ATK (Friendly)
2-2 draw at Brighton
2-0 home win vs Exeter City (EFL Cup)
4-2 home win vs Burnley
Javi Gracia continues to have issues over the fitness of center backs Miguel Britos and Younes Kaboul, center midfielder Tom Cleverley, and winger Gerard Deulofeu.
The power and newfound pace of Troy Deeney is worth watching here for the Hornets. Deeney has four goals in the last two league matches against Fulham, with the Englishman scoring a hat trick at this very same stadium in a 2014 Championship match. Abdoulaye Doucoure is another player to watch. He's been lights out in the middle of the park, and he picked up his second assist last weekend in their valiant comeback attempt against United.
Watford have a loss and four wins in their last five matches:
1-2 home loss vs Manchester United
2-1 home win vs Tottenham
0-2 win at Reading (EFL Cup)
2-1 home win vs Crystal Palace
1-3 win at Burnley