Watford will be looking to arrest their alarming slump before it's too late when they host Cardiff City at Vicarage Road this Saturday.

The Hornets have lost their last three matches to slip out of the playoff places, with the last two defeats being particularly damaging ones against fellow promotion contenders.

It is now just one win in six for Slavisa Jokanovic's side, but they remain just one point outside the top six and three away from the automatic promotion places.

It won't be time for panic stations just yet, then, but a fourth defeat in a row could begin to raise questions whether Jokanovic - already Watford's fourth manager of the season - is up to the job.

The 2-1 defeat at the hands of league leaders Derby County last time out was Watford's first at Vicarage Road this season, and they will be keen to make a swift return to winning ways in front of their own fans.

However, they have only beaten Cardiff once in their last 11 meetings, drawing five and losing five in that time.

Jokanovic could be without Heurelho Gomes for the second week in a row due to tendonitis, but Almen Abdi played an hour in an Under-21 fixture on Tuesday and is available for selection.

The loan signing of Adlene Guedioura also gives him more options in midfield, and the Crystal Palace man could feature this weekend.

Cardiff, meanwhile, continue to hover in mid-table as they struggle to reproduce their home form on their travels.

The Bluebirds have the best home record in the division, but just five of their 26 points have come on the road. Only Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool have amassed fewer away points.

Indeed, they are one of just two teams yet to pick up an away victory this season, while they have not scored in any of their last four matches on the road.

Their record at Vicarage Road will not inspire confidence either. They have won just one of their last 13 visits to Watford, although eight of those matches have ended all square.

There are problems defensively for Cardiff too, as Russell Slade's side have kept a league-low two clean sheets so far this season.

Watford:

Recent form: DDWLLL

Possible starting lineup: Bond; Paredes, Ekstrand, Bassong, Doyley; Andrews, Tozser, Ighalo, Forestieri, Dyer; Deeney

Cardiff:

Recent form: WLWLDW

Possible starting lineup: Marshall; Connolly, Morrison, Turner, Brayford; Pilkington, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Noone; Le Fondre, Macheda

Sports Mole says: 2-2

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