Watford vs Preston Preview
- Tournament: Championship
- Date: Tuesday, Jan 21
- Kick-off Time: 07:45 pm GMT
- Venue: Vicarage Road, England
Preston will travel to Watford for their 28th game of the 2024/25 Championship season at Vicarage Road. The Hornets will aim to bounce back from their disappointing run of form despite winning their latest weekend fixture.
Hosts Watford have been in mixed form this season as they have secured only two wins in their last six fixtures. They are a force to be reckoned with this season at home where they have been consistent. They position themselves firmly in the playoff picture currently sitting in 8th place in the Championship table with 41 points after 27 games. Vakoun Issouf Bayo is leading the goalscoring charts with 10 goals whereas Giorgi Chakvetadze has made five assists this season.
Meanwhile, Preston would want to climb out of their disastrous position in the league as they are 16th in the league standings with 31 points after 27 games. The Lilywhites managed a respectable goalless draw with Luton Town in their latest game. Emil Riis Jakobsen is the top scorer for Preston this season with seven goals whereas Kaine Kesler Hayden leads the assists board with three to his name.
Watford Team News
Watford’s squad will be without the services of goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann after he sustained a ligament injury in the game against Sheffield. Defender Kevin Keben and midfielder Pierre Dwomoh are also out with their respective injuries. Udinese loanee Vakoun Bayo is expected to lead the line and would be aiming to add more goals to his tally.
Preston Team News
As for the visiting side, they have only one injury concern in Brad Potts who’s dealing with a knee injury. Robbie Brady who was out with a rib injury made the bench in the last match and could earn some minutes in the midweek tie.
Watford vs Preston Predicted Lineups
Watford Predicted lineup (3-4-3):
Goalkeeper: Bond
Defenders: Abankwah, Sierralta, Pollock
Midfielders: Baah, Louza, Dele-Bashiru, Ngakia
Forwards: Kayembe, Bayo, Vata
Preston Predicted lineup (3-4-2-1):
Goalkeeper: Woodman
Defenders: Storey, Lindsay, Gibson
Midfielders: Kesler-Hayden, Ledson, McCann, Hughes
Forwards: Keane, Osmajic, Greenwood
Watford vs Preston Head-to-Head Record
The two sides have faced off only 49 times in the past, with Preston winning 19 of those games. Watford have won 14 between both sides, whereas the remaining 16 games ended in a draw.
| Date | Match | Competition |
| October 02, 2024 | Preston 3-0 Watford | League Championship |
| April 06, 2024 | Watford 0-0 Preston | League Championship |
| December 16, 2023 | Preston 1-5 Watford | League Championship |
| March 04, 2023 | Watford 0-0 Preston | League Championship |
| August 20, 2022 | Preston 0-0 Watford | League Championship |
Key Players to Watch in Watford vs Preston
Vakoun Issouf Bayo (Watford)
Udinese loanee and Ivory Coast international Vakoun Issouf Bayo is undoubtedly one of the prolific goalscorers in the Championship this season. So far, the 28-year-old striker has scored 10 goals in 25 league appearances and has accumulated an xG of 1.4 in his last five games.
Emil Riis Jakobsen (Preston)
Preston forward Emil Riis Jakobsen is one of the first names on Paul Heckingbottom’s team sheet and has an xG of 2.1 in his past five games. The 26-year-old has found the back of the net seven times in his 27 league appearances.
Watford vs Preston Prediction
Watford have made a great start to the season and are just on point behind the playoff spots. They have been inconsistent on the road but have managed a formidable record on home soil. They are coming off a 2-0 win over Derby County in the weekend clash and currently sit eighth in the league standings, level on points with West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough.
As for Preston, they have made a horrific start to their return to the Championship since they were expected to compete in the upper echelons in the second tier of English football. But they have been in better form than their opponents despite languishing in the bottom half of the table. The Lilywhites find themselves five points above the relegation zone and have drawn the most amount of games in the league this season.
Predicted Score: Watford 2-0 Preston
Where to Watch Watford vs Preston Live?
| Country | Where to watch |
| USA | CBS Sports Golazo, Paramount+ |
| UK | Sky Sports |
| India | FanCode |
FAQs
Q. When is Watford vs Preston?
A. The Watford vs Preston game will be played on 21st January at Vicarage Road.
Q. Where to watch Watford vs Preston live for free?
A. The game between Watford and Preston can be watched on Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream.
Q. What is the predicted score in Watford vs Preston?
A. The predicted score for Watford vs Preston is 2-0.
Q. What is the head-to-head record for Watford vs Preston?
A. Both Watford and Preston played 49 games. Preston recorded 19 wins, Watford managed 14 whereas the 16 games ended in a draw.