Watford v West Ham preview: Hammers aim for another away win
Thursday 5 November 2015 18:11, UK
West Ham will be aiming to continue their impressive away form when they travel to Watford on Saturday.
The Hammers have already won at Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City to climb up to third in the Premier League.
They beat defending champions Chelsea in their last outing at Upton Park and are the second-highest scorers in the league behind Manchester City.
Watford, on the other hand, have struggled for goals, managing just eight in 10 games, the joint-lowest in the league. Two of those came last weekend as the Hornets won 2-0 at Stoke to end a run of three matches without a victory.
Captain Troy Deeney netted his first goal of the season at the Britannia while Odion Ighalo is the club's top scorer with five.
Team news
Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores is hoping Jose Manuel Jurado may be fit in time to face the Hammers. The midfielder has been missing with a hamstring strain but has returned to training and could be involved against the Hammers.
Former West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami will be pushing for a start after coming off the bench in the win over Stoke last week following a calf injury - while Joel Ekstrand (knee) and Tommie Hoban (groin) are still out.
The Hammers could welcome back defender Winston Reid for Saturday's clash with Watford. The New Zealand international missed the win over Chelsea with a thigh problem but could be involved for the Hammers when they travel to Vicarage Road.
Victor Moses is also back after being ineligible against his parent club but Alex Song (ankle) is still missing while Bilic has to decide whether to hand last weekend's match-winner Andy Carroll his first start since January.
Opta stats
Watford have won just one of their last 22 league meetings with West Ham, drawing four and losing 17.
West Ham are unbeaten in their last 11 league visits to Vicarage Road (W8 D3), last suffering a league defeat away to Watford in April 1985 (0-5).
Watford have lost their last two league games at Vicarage Road; they last lost three consecutive home league games in December 2013 (five home defeats in a row).
No West Ham player has been involved in more goals in their first ten Premier League appearances for the club than Dmitri Payet (eight - scored five, assisted three); level with Ian Wright and Diafra Sakho.
Watford have used a league-low two English players this season in the Premier League (Troy Deeney and Ben Watson).
Merson's prediction
Troy Deeney got on the scoresheet with a very good goal so they'll definitely pose a threat. But you can't overlook West Ham's phenomenal away record, they should come through this one with another victory.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2
Betting
Watford are Sky Bet's 7/5 favourites with West Ham up against odds of 19/10 despite their impressive form. Slaven Bilic's men are now 18/1 for a top-four finish and just 4/1 to be in the top six come the end of the season, while the Hornets went out to 11/2 for relegation following last weekend's win at Stoke. Ighalo is the 5/1 favourite in the first goalscorer betting, while Diafra Sakho head the market from the Hammers' side at 6/1.
