Watford are looking to pick up back-to-back Championship victories for only the second time this season when they take on Coventry City at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

The Hornets ended a four-game winless run last time out and are fifth in the table, 10 points better off than lowly opponents Coventry, who have two wins from their 10 matches.

Match preview

Watford's Joao Pedro celebrates with teammates after scoring against Derby County on October 16, 2020 © Reuters

Ismaila Sarr's stoppage-time strike in Watford's 3-2 win over Stoke City on Wednesday had the feel of a truly massive goal.

Vladimir Ivic's side were heading for a third draw in four matches, the other game in that sequence ending in a 1-0 loss to Barnsley.

However, thanks to Sarr's fourth goal of the campaign - a good finish into the bottom corner - Watford are all of a sudden in a far healthier position in the table.

All going well, Ivic's men could enter the final international break of the year second in the division - a position they will gladly accept come next May.

While Watford were celebrating a late winner in midweek, Coventry were ruing their luck as Lyle Taylor scored a 97th-minute penalty to earn Nottingham Forest a 2-1 win.

That crushing loss came on the back of a 3-2 win against league leaders Reading - the Sky Blues' only victory in eight outings.

Coventry City manager Mark Robins pictured in September 2020 © Reuters

Mark Robins described the loss as a "big lesson" for his side before switching focus to this trip to Vicarage Road, where Watford have won four and drawn one of their five matches.

Indeed, they have picked up more points at home (13) than any other side in this season's Championship.

That is also the same tally they had from their first five home games in their last Championship campaign in 2014-15, in which they were promoted.

Coventry have lost three consecutive away league games, meanwhile, which is their longest such run since December 2018, when they lost four in a row.

No wonder Robins has labelled this a "huge test" for his side, then, in what will be the first league encounter between the sides since a couple of goalless draws in 2011-12.

Watford Championship form: WWDDLW

Coventry City Championship form: LDLLWL

Team News

Joao Pedro in action for Watford in January 2020 © Reuters

Andre Gray is pushing for his first league start of the campaign, which would give Ivic the chance to give Joao Pedro - used in all 10 matches so far - a rare breather.

Without Pedro's four league goals this season, the Hornets would be six points worse off - only Brentford's Ivan Toney (8) has earned his side more points with his goals this term.

Will Hughes is another looking to start for the first time, but injured pair Isaac Success and Tom Dele-Bashiru will definitely play no part.

As for Coventry, Dom Hyam, Fankaty Dabo and Jordan Shipley are all doubtful for this trip to Vicarage Road.

Jamie Allen was left out for the Forest match but is expected to return here in place of Maxime Biamou.

Matt Godden, who has four goals and two assists in 10 Championship starts this season, will once again lead the line for the visitors.

Watford possible starting lineup:
Foster; Cathcart, Kabasele, Wilmot; Femenia, Hughes, Capoue, Cleverley, Sema; Gray, Sarr

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Marosi; Rose, McFadzean, Ostigard; McCallum, Sheaf, Hamer, Giles; Allen, O'Hare; Godden

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We say: Watford 2-0 Coventry City

These sides experienced contrasting emotions in midweek, with Watford earning a late victory against Stoke and Coventry losing to a last-gasp Forest penalty.

City have collected one point from a possible 15 on their travels this term, while Watford have 12 home points from 15, so we are backing a routine victory for the Hornets.

Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Watford win with a probability of 44.08%. A win for Coventry City had a probability of 29.47% and a draw had a probability of 26.5%.

The most likely scoreline for a Watford win was 1-0 with a probability of 11.34%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (8.91%) and 2-0 (8.04%). The likeliest Coventry City win was 0-1 (8.87%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.56%). The actual scoreline of 3-2 was predicted with a 2.3% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Watford would win this match.