Preview & Prediction: Watford FC vs Preston North End FC

As Watford FC gears up to face Preston North End FC, the scales seem to tip slightly in favor of the home team. Watford’s recent form, picking up 4 points from their last 5 games, suggests a mixed run. Yet, with a solid home performance record, they come into this match having netted consistently, scoring in their past four home fixtures. This is a significant factor as they host a Preston side that struggles on the road, averaging just 0.69 points away per match this season.

Preston North End, on the other hand, seems to have found some rhythm, accumulating 8 points in their last five outings but still face the daunting challenge of improving their away game efficiency. Their recent run shows they are resilient, with only one loss in the past five matches. However, with both teams showing a pattern of conceding, and considering the average past goal outcomes between them, another encounter where both teams find the net seems likely.

Historically, these teams have been quite balanced with Watford edging slightly ahead in past victories. Given the head-to-head results usually swing with an average goal tally of about 2.36 goals per match and considering Watford’s strong home advantage of 2.23 points per game this season, it suggests Watford may have a slight edge.

Expect a competitive clash where Watford’s home consistency and goal-scoring record pose a challenge for Preston’s defense. With both teams showing a tendency for games to end with goals at both ends (BTTS), fans could see another high-intensity, goal-filled encounter.

Insights

• Watford FC has scored consistently in their last 9 games, indicating a strong attacking capability.
• Watford FC has a high likelihood of BTTS (Both Teams To Score) occurring, with 63% of their matches this season having this outcome.
• Watford FC has been scoring at home, marking in 4 consecutive home games.
• Preston North End has been in slightly better form recently compared to Watford, averaging 1.6 points per game over the last 5 matches.
• BTTS also has a significant occurrence in Preston North End’s matches, with 56% of the season’s matches seeing both teams score.
• Historically, these two teams have a fairly balanced record against each other, with Watford slightly edging it in victories.
• Past encounters between Watford and Preston averaged 2.36 goals per match, suggesting the potential for a reasonably high-scoring encounter.
• Preston North End has a poor away record this season, averaging only 0.69 points per game, which might give Watford a home advantage.
• The recent 2-2 draw in their last meeting indicates a closely contested match could be expected again.
• Watford has a good home form, with a strong home average of 2.23 points per game this season.

Match Forecast

• Watford may exploit Preston’s weakness against through balls given their preference for attempting them often.
• Both teams’ aggressive styles could lead to a high number of fouls and possibly cards.
• The match might feature many direct free kick attempts, as both teams are strong in this area and have very weak capabilities in avoiding fouls in dangerous areas.
• Watford could struggle to stop Preston from winning aerial duels, especially during set pieces where Watford has defensive weaknesses.
• Watford’s attacking focus down the left could exploit Preston’s weak defense against through balls.
• Preston may find opportunities attacking down the right against Watford’s vulnerability to wing attacks.
• Matches could swing back and forth with leads changing hands, as Preston struggles to protect leads and Watford is strong at coming back from losing positions.
• The game might see clinical finishing from Watford if they create scoring chances due to their strength in finishing.
• Errors from Watford might contribute to Preston’s goal chances given Watford’s weak point of avoiding individual errors.
• Both teams may rotate their first eleven, indicating tweaks in strategy based on match progression or player form.

Match Facts

• Historically, the most frequent scoreline in games between Watford FC and Preston North End at Watford’s home is 0-0, occurring three times.
• Overall, a 1-1 draw is the most common result in matches between the two teams, seen in five encounters.
• In the past 13 home games for Watford against Preston North End, both teams have recorded four wins each, with five draws. Watford edges ahead in goal difference, 16-13.
• Across 28 encounters, Watford FC has secured six victories, while Preston North End has won 12 matches. The remaining 10 games ended in draws, with Preston leading on goal difference, 35-31.
• Preston North End’s most recent away victory at Watford was in 2005.
• Last season’s matches ended 0-0 at Watford and 1-5 in Preston’s favor at their home ground.
• Watford FC have been on a three-match losing streak in the Championship.
• Watford FC scores 31% of their goals between the 46th and 60th minute.
• Only 3% of Watford’s goals occur in the first 15 minutes, the lowest ratio in the league.
• Preston North End nets 25% of their goals between the 46th and 60th minute.
• Watford FC has lost their last four matches consecutively.
• Watford is unbeaten in their last seven home fixtures against Preston North End.
• Watford has failed to score in only one of their 13 home Championship games this season.
• Preston North End has failed to score in three out of 12 away fixtures in the Championship this season.
• Preston’s current away record stands at one win, five draws, and six losses.
• Vakoun Issouf Bayo leads Watford FC’s scoring chart with 10 goals, while Emil Riis has scored seven for Preston North End.
• Watford FC has conceded goals in each of their last nine matches.
• Watford FC has scored in nine consecutive games.
• Preston North End has scored in ten consecutive games.
• Watford wins the first half in 17% of their matches, compared to Preston North End’s 34%.
• Watford wins 17% of halftimes, while Preston North End wins 34%.
• Preston North End won the most recent meeting between the teams.
• In their latest encounter, Preston triumphed by three goals.
• When leading 1-0 at home, Watford wins 69% of their matches.
• When holding a 0-1 lead away, Preston wins 63% of their matches.
• Watford comes back to win 30% of matches when trailing 0-1 at home.
• Preston does not win any away match when trailing 1-0.
• In the Championship, Preston’s performance surpasses that of Watford.
• Preston North End’s last five matches’ form is superior to Watford FC’s.
• In their last five meetings, each team has won once, with the remaining three encounters ending in draws.
• Watford FC averages one goal against Preston North End, while Preston averages 0.8 goals against Watford.
• The average total goals per meeting between Watford FC and Preston North End is 1.8.
• The average first-half goal count in encounters between these teams is 0.4.
• Neither team has won their latest Championship match.
• On average, Watford scores 1.3 goals at home, while Preston scores 1.2 goals away.
• Watford FC has not won in their last five games.