Stoke preparing for Watford's Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney, says Mark Hughes
Friday 18 March 2016 20:15, UK
Mark Hughes says Stoke will make preparations to nullify the threat of in-form Watford front pair Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney on Saturday.
The two sides meet at Vicarage Road with the hosts needing a win to take them to the 40-point mark in the Premier League.
Watford captain Deeney scored the last time the teams met while strike partner Ighalo has 14 league goals to his name in his first season in the top flight, but the Stoke boss is determined to see his side frustrate the pair.
"We have a game plan that incorporates things we need to do well to stop the better players in the opposition having an influence and that will be the case against Watford," Hughes said.
"The two guys up top have had a big influence on what they've done. Ighalo has scored 14 league goals, and Deeney hasn't scored as many but has created a lot.
"They are a good pairing who work well off each other really well, and certainly they are something we'll talk about before the game."
Hughes also believes Quique Sanchez Flores' side would be regarded as the story of the season if it were not for Leicester's remarkable title charge.
On Watford's return to the top flight, they have been around the middle of the table for much of the season, well clear of the fight to beat the drop and have an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to after beating Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates last weekend.
"Let's hope they have been celebrating getting to a Wembley semi-final," Hughes added. "I thought they played really well and deserved to go through.
"They have had a great season. The story of the season is Leicester, but if that hadn't been the case, then Watford and the season they have had, given they were only promoted last year, would very much have been in people's minds in terms of the story of the season.
"So that's credit to them. They kept a few of those who got them up, but also made a lot of changes. That sometimes can go awry, but they've been able to cope with it and have looked very comfortable in this league for a long time."
