West Bromwich Albion vs Watford. Premier League.
The HawthornsAttendance25,515.
Saturday 16 April 2016 15:38, UK
West Brom host FA Cup semi-finalists Watford at the Hawthorns in a mid-table tussle with both teams seemingly assured of Premier League football for next season.
The Hornets are without a Premier League win in six although Flores has masterminded a last-four appearance at Wembley after beating holders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in round six. Victory would help them leapfrog their West Midlands opponents.
Albion put up a stern challenge at Champions League semi-finalists Manchester City last weekend and will look to take that form into Saturday's match where a win could take them into 11th position should other results go their way.
They have also been boosted by the news that defenders Gareth McAuley and Jonas Olsson have signed one-year
contract extensions at the club.
Team news
West Brom will check on Salomon Rondon, Alex Pritchard and Callum McManaman ahead of the game.
Rondon is thought to have overcome the back injury that forced him off during the first half at Manchester City last weekend but the striker will be assessed as a precaution.
Pritchard's hip problem makes him less likely to feature while fellow midfielder McManaman (ankle) is also a doubt. Baggies boss Tony Pulis hopes James Morrison might be able to return from his ruptured hamstring before the end of the season but he will not be available on Saturday.
Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores has a fully-fit squad. The Spaniard has hinted he could make changes with an FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace next week and the need to address a six-game winless league run the main factors behind any alterations.
The likes of Nathan Ake, Allan Nyom, Sebastian Prodl and Almen Abdi will therefore be hoping for recalls while Joel Ekstrand is unlikely to feature having only just returned from a long-term knee injury.
Opta stats
West Brom have lost none of their last 15 league meetings with Watford (W8 D7), who have failed to keep a clean sheet on their last seven league trips to The Hawthorns, shipping 21 goals in total in those games.
Over the last 27 meetings between these sides in all competitions, Watford have failed to beat West Brom when they've conceded a goal.
Watford are the lowest scoring team in the Premier League in 2016, with just seven goals to their name. The Hornets have kept 10 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, but just two of these have been away from home.
Odion Ighalo has scored just one goal from 23 shots in the Premier League in 2016 (4.3 per cent conversion rate). In 2015, he scored from 13 of his 54 shots (24.1 per cent).
Just eight players have scored a Premier League goal for Watford this season; a joint league-low with Stoke City.
Paul Merson's prediction
There have been plenty giving West Brom a bit of stick in recent weeks but I thought they did well against Manchester City. When you look at the sides in the bottom three and you look at West Brom, I think they've done great.
On the other hand this is a perfect game for Watford ahead of the FA Cup semi-final. It's a totally different situation to that of Everton. Quique Sanchez Flores can rest every single one of his starting 11 this week and get beat 5-0 and the fans wouldn't care less. They would still clap them off.
Watford have secured their top-flight status and reached the FA Cup semi-final, that's some achievement. For Everton, they have 11 international footballers and a very good team but they are not in the top half. That's the difference.
West Brom to win against a depleted Watford side.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 17/2)
Betting
West Brom are Sky Bet's 13/10 favourite for the victory, with Watford 23/10 while a draw is priced at 21/10. Both sides are considered all but safe at 5,000/1 and 1,000/1 in Sky Bet's relegation odds. Saido Berahino heads the first goalscorer betting at 9/2 followed by Ighalo (5/1), while no goalscorer, as backed by Matt Le Tissier in his Sky Bet tips, is a 7/1 chance.
