Two teams competing for a spot in the Championship playoff places will meet on Tuesday evening, as Watford host Bristol City at Vicarage Road for matchday 17 of the 2024-25 season.
The hosts are seventh in the table with 26 points, only outside the top six on goal difference, while the visitors are 10th in the standings with 22 points from 16 games.
Match preview
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Since their relegation from the Premier League in 2021-22, Watford have struggled in the subsequent seasons, finishing 11th in 2022-23 and enduring a particularly disappointing 15th-placed finish in 2023-24.
Former manager Valerien Ismael was sacked in March 2024 due to their poor standing in the league, with Tom Cleverley appointed on an interim basis, but the former midfielder was given the permanent role after losing just one of his first seven games.
Cleverley has continued to impress in the opening of the 2024-25 season, leading the Hornets to seventh in the league with 26 points, from eight wins, two draws and six defeats.
Watford won all of their first five games across all competitions before enduring a period of just two wins in the next nine, losing six and drawing one in that time, before recovering with three wins, one draw and one loss in their last six.
Aiming to strengthen their push for the playoff spots, with a win potentially drawing them level on points with fourth-placed Leeds depending on results elsewhere, Watford will seek to overcome a Bristol City side they have defeated in three of the last four home encounters.
As for Bristol City, they have gradually been climbing the Championship table since they disappointingly fell from 12th in 2019-20 to a 19th-placed finish in 2020-21, subsequently placing 17th, 14th and 11th.
After 16 matches of the 2024-25 season, Bristol City find themselves back in the fight for the playoff places, heading into this game sitting 10th in the table with 22 points, from five wins, seven draws and four defeats.
Liam Manning, in charge since November 2023, will be hoping for his side to build more consistency over the winter period, with his side yet to win back-to-back matches this term, while they will also be aiming to bounce back from a narrow defeat to Burnley last time out.
They will take confidence from the fact that they have been at their best when playing on the road, taking 12 points from eight away fixtures, though Watford remain unbeaten at home with six wins and one draw so far this season.
Team News
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The hosts are expected to be without Angelo Ogbonna, Tom Dele-Bashiru, and Jeremy Ngakia for this match, although Ngakia could be in line to return later this month.
With Watford on a strong run of form heading into this game, having won three and drawn one of their last five, Cleverley could decide to name a similar starting side here.
Bristol City are dealing with an injury crisis heading into this match with up to six players set to miss out, including Ayman Benarous, George Tanner, Joe Williams, Mark Sykes, Ross McCrorie and Samuel Bell.
Despite falling to defeat against Burnley in their last outing, Manning will likely be encouraged by aspects of their performance, meaning a similar side could start here.
However, wingback pairing George Earthy and Haydon Roberts struggled in that match, meaning Yu Hirakawa and Cameron Pring could come into the starting team for this one.
Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Porteous, Pollock, Morris; Andrews, Sissoko, Louza, Larouci; Baah, Bayo, Chakvetadze
Bristol City possible starting lineup:
O'Leary; Vyner, Dickie, McNally; Hirakawa, McGuane, Knight, Pring; Bird, Mehmeti; Wells
We say: Watford 2-1 Bristol City
Both sides have made strong starts to the 2024-25 season, but the hosts have been formidable at home, yet to lose any of their seven league games, and we believe the hosts will extend that run with a win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
