Title chasers Leeds United will welcome promotion hopefuls Watford to Elland Road on Tuesday in their 11th game of the Championship season.
The hosts are third with 19 points and beat fourth-placed Sheffield United 2-0 last time out on Friday in the Championship, while the Hornets are eighth with 16 points from 10 matches and lost 3-0 against Luton Town on Saturday.
Match preview
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Leeds' win against the Blades was well deserved given the Peacocks produced three big chances and limited Sheffield United to no big chances and only one shot from inside the penalty area, nine fewer than Leeds.
Boss Daniel Farke was thrilled with his team's performance, heralding his players as mature and highlighting the fact that the Blades had not lost in the Championship prior to their game on Friday.
Farke's side have so far averaged 1.7 goals per game and just 0.7 conceded per match, the joint second best and joint third best records respectively in the Championship.
In the prior game, Leeds drew 2-2 on October 4 with first-placed Sunderland, who are level on points with Tuesday's hosts but have a game in hand.
The Peacocks are in excellent form having won five of their last eight games in the second tier, with their solitary loss this league season coming in a 1-0 defeat against second-placed Burnley on September 14, but the Clarets are only two points clear of Farke's team.
Leeds have also won their last two home fixtures in the Championship, though they did lose two, draw one and win just one of the previous four league games at Elland Road.
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Opponents Watford come into the clash having been outclassed by Rob Edwards's Luton, creating no big chances and producing three shots from inside the box compared to the Hatters' nine.
Manager Tom Cleverley was downbeat in the aftermath of his side's defeat, saying that the XI did not stand up to the challenges posed by their opponents, and he added that the players failed to live up to their identity as a team.
Interestingly, Cleverley argued that the result was less to do with tactical faults or with underperforming individuals, but rather blamed the fact that the Hornets played away from home.
Tuesday's visitors have lost their last four away games in the Championship, conceding 11 times and scoring just once in that period.
While Watford's recent overall form is somewhat better considering they have won two and lost two of their last four league matches, they have lost four, drawn one and won just two of their last seven games in the division.
The away team have scored 14 goals and conceded 17 times so far in the Championship, the joint sixth-best offensive and joint fifth worst records respectively in the 24-team division.
Team News
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The hosts will be without Ethan Ampadu until January 2025 at the earliest, while Maximilian Wober is not scheduled to return until the middle of December.
Leeds will also be unable to select midfielder Ilia Gruev until later in November, so expect Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell to start in a double pivot in the middle of the pitch, behind attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson.
Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk are likely to feature as centre-backs on Tuesday, flanked by full-backs Jayden Bogle and Junior Firpo.
Meanwhile, Watford right-back Jeremy Ngakia is likely to be missing until late October, while centre-back Kevin Keben is not expected to return until the middle of November.
The Hornets may name Ryan Porteous, Angelo Ogbonna and Matthew Pollock in a back three behind a midfield of Moussa Sissoko, Tom Dele-Bashiru and Thomas Ince.
In attack, Giorgi Chakvetadze could start alongside Vakoun Issouf Bayo in a front two.
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Tanaka, Rothwell; Gnonto, Aaronson, Ramazani; Piroe
Watford possible starting lineup:
Bond; Andrews, Pollock, Ogbonna, Porteous, Sema; Sissoko, Dele-Bashiru, Ince; Bayo, Chakvetadze
We say: Leeds United 3-1 Watford
Given Watford's poor form away form and how candidly Cleverley spoke about his side's struggles on the road, it is difficult to see how they avoid defeat.
Additionally, Leeds are in excellent form and have proven difficult to beat this term, and they should be considered favourites.
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Lewis Nolan
