Watford v Swansea preview: Bafetimbi Gomis eyes record streak
Saturday 12 September 2015 15:18, UK
Bafetimbi Gomis can become the third player to score in each of the first five Premier League games of the season as Swansea travel to Watford.
Gomis has scored in all four of the Swans' matches so far this season, and Wayne Rooney and Jose Antonio Reyes are the only players to net in every one of the opening five games.
Meanwhile, team-mate Andre Ayew was awarded the Premier League Player of the Month award for August after scoring three himself and helping Garry Monk's side to eight points from their first four matches.
Watford have yet to win this season, drawing their opening three fixtures before losing to Manchester City before the international break. Goals will be a concern for Quique Sanchez Flores as they have failed to score in their last four matches in all competitions.
Team news
Flores could hand debuts to deadline-day recruits Adlene Guedioura and striker Obbi Oulare, but he has doubts over the overall fitness of the latter.
Fellow deadline-day signing Victor Ibarbo, who arrived on loan from Cagliari, is still awaiting a work permit, while Miguel Britos is suspended and Joel Ekstrand (knee) is missing.
Jefferson Montero has recovered from the thigh injury which kept him out of the victory over Manchester United, staying behind for treatment during the international break rather than join the Ecuador squad for their midweek friendly with Honduras.
Swansea's players have all returned from international duty unscathed, so manager Garry Monk has a fully-fit squad for the trip to Vicarage Road.
Opta stats
Watford have lost their last two league meetings with Swansea at home, after winning each of the three games before that.
The Swans have kept only one clean sheet in their last six top-tier games on the road.
The Hornets have failed to direct a single shot on target in their last two Premier League games.
Bafetimbi Gomis has scored nine goals in his last 10 Premier League games for Swansea.
Only Arsenal's Santi Cazorla (16) has created more goal-scoring chances in the Premier Leage this season than Swansea's Jonjo Shelvey (14).
Merson's prediction
I was disappointed with Watford last week. The shape of the team looks wrong and they just don't look like scoring and I feel sorry for Troy Deeney.
They need to change their shape otherwise it could be a difficult season. They did brilliantly in their first game against Everton and that tells you everything you need to know. They attacked and should have won that game, since then they haven't and they haven't scored.
Swansea, meanwhile, have made a great start to the season, although they flattered to deceive away to Sunderland two weeks ago. But they followed that up with victory over Manchester United. They are a good team and I expect them to win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2 (Sky Bet odds 11/1)
Betting
Watford are Sky Bet's marginal favourites at 13/8 to Swansea's price of 7/4, with the draw an 11/5 chance. The Hornets are currently 5/4 second favourites for relegation, while an impressive start from Garry Monk's men has seen them cut to 9/2 for a top-six finish. Bafetimbi Gomis is the joint favourite with Troy Deeney in the first goalscorer betting at 11/2, with the Swans striker 13/8 to score anytime yet again, while Premier League Player of the Month Andre Ayew is 6/1 to net first.
