Watford v West Brom preview: Visitors looking for answers to end losing streak
Saturday 3 March 2018 07:32, UK
Alan Pardew takes his rock-bottom West Brom team to Watford this weekend knowing he may have just one game to save his job, after a run of just one win in 14 Premier League games since taking charge last November.
The Baggies are seven points adrift of safety following the 2-1 home defeat by Huddersfield, and Pardew knows his side must get a result at Vicarage Road, where a sixth straight league defeat could spell the end - 13 weeks after his appointment.
His preparations for the game this week have been affected more by a leak to the media than the adverse weather, after it was revealed that Chris Brunt criticised his tactics in a heated dressing-room exchange last Saturday.
Brunt disagreed with the decision to stick with a 4-4-2 formation against the Terriers, who played a five-man midfield, and the Northern Ireland international also had harsh words for some of his team-mates, who he accused of a lack of effort and desire.
Pardew said: "We've made it more difficult because of what happened in Barcelona and we've put the spotlight on ourselves in terms of professionalism.
"The stuff that came out of the dressing room on Saturday was disappointing, because what goes on in the dressing room should stay in the dressing room in my opinion. But we had drug-testers in there and people perhaps not normally associated with the dressing room.
"But I don't think our fans will be disappointed with that. Would they expect us not to have words after a performance like that? I'd be foolish and not a good manager if I didn't listen to those comments. Hopefully I can come up with some answers for Saturday."
Watford will be in no mood to show mercy having experienced a revival in recent weeks under head coach Javi Gracia, with the 1-0 win to Everton last Saturday making it back-to-back home wins to move the team into the top half of the table.
The Hornets will be determined not to get sucked back into the relegation battle having moved six points clear of the drop zone with 10 games remaining.
Gracia is expecting a tough encounter against the Baggies, who are fighting to preserve their top flight status for an eighth consecutive season.
The Watford boss said at his pre-match press conference: "It will be an opportunity to get three points. But I don't think it will be easier to play against West Brom, than to play against Arsenal in the next game after that," Gracia added.
"I'm certain West Brom will play the next game as though it's the last one."
Team news
Watford expect to have midfielder Will Hughes available again following a hamstring problem for the Premier League match against West Brom.
On-loan Barcelona winger Gerard Deulofeu, though, faces a spell out after suffering a stress fracture in his foot during the win over Everton.
Defender Craig Cathcart is set to resume training following his long-term knee problem, but midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah (knee), Younes Kaboul (foot), Tom Cleverley (thigh) and Isaac Success (knee) remain unavailable.
West Brom have an unchanged squad for the trip to Watford but boss Pardew has said he will make changes to his team.
Pardew is in desperate need of a win, with his side bottom of the Premier League table and seven points adrift of safety, and he could recall the likes of Gareth McAuley, Jake Livermore, Brunt and Hal Robson-Kanu.
On-loan striker Daniel Sturridge (hamstring) remains a couple of weeks away from a return to fitness while Nacer Chadli (hip) and James Morrison (Achilles) are still out as well.
Opta stats
Watford have only lost one of their five Premier League meetings with West Bromwich Albion (W2 D2), keeping a clean sheet in both previous home games (W1 D1).
West Brom's last win at Vicarage Road came in a Championship game in November 2007 (3-0).
Watford are looking to win three back-to-back Premier League home games for the first time since April 2017 - one of those matches was against WBA (2-0).
Alan Pardew's side have lost their last four Premier League games - they last lost five in a row in January 2011.
West Brom have lost their last two Premier League away games by a 3-0 scoreline - they've not lost three top-flight away games in a row by a margin of three goals or more since September 1985 (a run of four).
Watford's Premier League games have seen more red cards than any other side in the competition this season (7, with four being shown to Watford players).
Four of West Brom's last five Premier League goals have been from corner situations and assisted by Chris Brunt. The Northern Irishman has provided the most Premier League assists this season among players yet to score themselves (6).
Merson's prediction
If Watford win this one then they can go and put their flip flops on! On the other hand, if West Brom lose this game then I think you can turn the floodlights off on their Premier League survival hopes, especially if the Swansea result goes the way I am predicting.
A few weeks ago West Brom were probably chasing about six teams whereas now they are in a situation where they are chasing just one or two. You really need to be chasing more than that to give yourself the best possible chance of survival.
Watford ground out a win last week but let's be honest, they weren't great. However, they were solid at the back and got the goal they needed. I'm going to go for them to do the same this week. I watched West Brom, against Huddersfield and they were poor and I can't pick a side who has won just three times in 30 matches to win an away game here.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
