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Watford logo
Premier League
Dec 5, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Norwich logo

2-0

Deeney (29' pen.), Ighalo (91')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Watford vs. Norwich City

Sports Mole previews the Premier League match between Watford and Norwich City at Vicarage Road.

Two of the sides that won promotion from the Championship last season meet in the Premier League this weekend as Norwich City travel to Vicarage Road to face Watford.

Both teams come into this match with one win from their last three league fixtures, leaving them in the bottom half of the table.


Watford

Troy Deeney of Watford celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Watford at Villa Park on November 28, 2015© Getty Images

Watford bounced back from back-to-back Premier League defeats with a 3-2 win over Aston Villa last time out, lifting the team up to 11th in the table.

Despite their losses to Leicester City and Manchester United in November, Quique Flores's side have three wins from their last five matches.

Watford have picked up more points away from home than at Vicarage Road this season, winning just two of their seven matches at home so far, while securing three wins in their away matches.

The Hornets' goalscoring record has improved in recent weeks, with the team scoring nine goals in their last five matches, leaving them with 15 so far this season - only five sides have scored fewer.

Finding the back of the net has proved tricky, with just four of their 15 goals coming on home soil. Watford's defending has been impressive though, with the team keeping five clean sheets and letting in just 16 goals.

Watford's recent results have been helped by Troy Deeney's return to form in front of goal. Last season's top scorer had to wait for his first Premier League goal, but since netting in the win over Stoke City in October the striker has added four goals in five appearances.

Recent form: LWWLLW


Norwich City

Lewis Grabban of Norwich City (7) celebrates with Jonathan Howson (8) as he scores their first and equalising goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Norwich City and Arsenal at Carrow Road on November 29, 2015© Getty Images

Norwich City sit 16th in the table coming into this weekend's match, having come from behind to secure a 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Carrow Road last weekend, with Lewis Grabban scoring the equaliser.

Having lost four matches in a row in October, Alex Neil's side have suffered just one defeat in the last three outings, leaving the Canaries three points clear of the relegation zone.

The manager has admitted that he has had to change his side's playing style since winning promotion to the top flight through the playoffs last season, learning to grind out results rather than playing an open, attacking style of football.

Norwich have struggled to pick up points away from home this season, winning just one of their seven away fixtures, while losing four times.

One of Norwich's main problems this season has been keeping their opponents off the scoreboard, keeping just one clean sheet in their 14 matches, while letting in 25 goals. Only the four sides below them in the table have let in more.

This weekend's visitors have the same goalscoring record as champions Chelsea, and just one goal fewer than seventh-placed Liverpool. Nathan Redmond leads the way with four goals, while Russell Martin has three.

Recent form: LLLWLD
Recent form (all competitions): LLLWLD


Team News

Heurelho Gomes of Watford watches the ball scored by Ngolo Kante of Leicester City during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Watford at The King Power Stadium on November 7, 2015 in Leicester, England.© Getty Images

Watford are optimistic that goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes will be able to retain his spot between the posts, despite having to go to hospital with a concussion last week.

Valon Behrami could also come back in after last week's match came too soon for his return from knee injury, but Sebastian Prodl and Joel Ekstrand are still out.

Meanwhile, the visitors are optimistic that Alex Tettey will be able to come back in after missing the draw with Arsenal because of a groin strain.

Matt Jarvis has not played for a month after picking up a knee injury, and is thought to be close to a return, but this match may come too soon.

Watford possible starting lineup:
Gomes, Nyim, Cathcart, Britos, Ake, Paredes, Capoue, Watson, Abdi, Deeney, Ighalo

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Ruddy, Wisdom, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson, O'Neil, Dorrans, Howson, Redmond, Hoolahan, Grabban


Head To Head

When the two sides met at Vicarage Road in the Championship last season, Norwich picked up a comfortable 3-0 win, having beaten the Hornets by the same scoreline at Carrow Road earlier in the campaign.

Watford have beaten the Canaries just once in their last six matches, claiming a narrow 3-2 win in 2010, while their last meeting when both sides were in the top flight, during the 1987-88 season, resulted in a goalless draw.

In 33 previous meetings between the two sides, Norwich have 14 wins, while Watford have picked up 12 victories.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Watford 2-2 Norwich City

Watford's goalscoring record has improved in recent weeks, and on home soil the Hornets will probably fancy their chances of securing all three points, but Norwich proved they can tough out a draw last weekend and have a good record against Watford in recent seasons, so it should be a tight contest.



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Written by
Sian Cowper
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Alex Tettey of Norwich City in action during the pre season friendly match between Norwich City and West Ham United at Carrow Road on July 28, 2015 in Norwich, England.
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