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Attendance: 19,711
Watford logo
Premier League
Nov 23, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Burnley logo

0-3

FT(HT: 0-0)
Wood (53'), Barnes (82' pen.), Tarkowski (88')

Preview: Watford vs. Burnley - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Premier League clash between Watford and Burnley, including predictions, team news and potential lineups.

Watford welcome Burnley to Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon with both sides looking to make it back-to-back wins as the Premier League resumes after the international break.

Sean Dyche's Clarets currently sit 10th in the table, eight places and seven points above Quique Sanchez Flores's Hornets.


Match preview

Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores before the match on November 8, 2019© Reuters

Watford entered their game with Norwich City before the international break as the only side in English football's top four divisions not to have won a league game this season, but goals from Gerard Deulofeu and Andre Gray ensured that they lost that tag with room to spare.

It may not be easy on the eye or particularly entertaining, but Flores has got the Hornets much tighter with five at the back, as shown by the fact that they have lost just one of their last five league games.

The 5-3-2 that the Spaniard has been employing allows Watford to sit deep, work a low block and attack with pace on the counter - a tactic they will be looking to exploit against a Burnley side that have struggled to defend counters this season.

The victory over Norwich ended a run of 15 games without a win in the league for the Hornets and they will be looking to end a similar streak on Saturday; Watford are without a win in their last 10 at Vicarage Road and the club have never got 11 at home without winning in their league history.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche on November 9, 2019© Reuters

Burnley ended a three-match losing run before the international break by thumping West Ham United 3-0 at Turf Moor.

Dyche's men have not been as tight defensively in recent times as they have been in previous campaigns, conceding in each of their last 13 games away from home.

Key to their hopes of getting a win on the road on Saturday will be attacking down the wings, as this has been both an area of strength for them and a problem area for Watford this season.

Dwight McNeil's pace, trickery and delivery of the ball means that Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood will always get chances, while Jeff Hendrick proved a more-than-adequate replacement for Johann Berg Gudmundsson last time out.

Additionally, despite only taking a point off Watford last season, Burnley have lost just once in their last five visits to Vicarage Road.

Watford recent form: LDDDLW
Watford recent form (all competitions): DDDLLW

Burnley recent form: DWLLLW


Team News

Watford's Troy Deeney sees red on April 15, 2019© Reuters

Watford are without Tom Cleverley, Roberto Pereyra, Domingos Quina, Sebastian Prodl and Danny Welbeck for Saturday's game, while Christian Kabasele is suspended and Ismaila Sarr is a doubt.

Flores will be boosted by the return of Troy Deeney, who could be in line for a start after getting extra time to recover in the international break, although Gray will be pushing for a place in the starting lineup after scoring last time out.

The Spaniard will also have to choose between Jose Holebas and Adam Masina for the starting left-back role, as Masina's pace could be useful on the counter even if Holebas is probably better defensively.

Burnley are without Gudmundsson, who is still out with a thigh problem, while Danny Drinkwater and Matej Vydra are doubts.

As such, Dyche is expected to name a very similar side to the one that beat West Ham before the break.

Watford possible starting lineup:
Foster; Janmaat, Cathcart, Dawson, Mariappa, Holebas; Doucoure, Capoue, Hughes; Deulofeu, Deeney

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Pope; Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Hendrick, Cork, Westwood, McNeil; Wood, Barnes


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Watford 1-1 Burnley

Burnley may be the better side on paper but their struggles away from Turf Moor and Watford's improved form and greater defensive stability in recent weeks should see this one end in a draw.



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Written by
Andrew Sinclair
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