Every Championship matchday seems to bring with it another huge encounter in the unbelievably close race for promotion to the Premier League, and Easter Monday is no different as two of the top four do battle at Vicarage Road.
Middlesbrough are the new league leaders after the games on Good Friday and now travel to Hertfordshire for a lunchtime kickoff against a Watford side looking to reclaim top spot following two games without a win.
Watford
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Two weeks ago, the Hornets were top of the pile after 38 games of the season, but, with just one point from a possible six since they are down to fourth and playing catch-up once more. Their recent winless run has coincided with overall poor form against the bigger teams around them. As we pointed out in our promotion race feature last month, the Hornets do not tend to do well against the top sides in the league.
Before the international break, they failed to get a shot on target and conceded a last-gasp goal at home to Ipswich Town, while on Friday they could have counted themselves a little lucky to have taken a point from Derby County after Marco Motta was sent off shortly before half time.
A point at the iPro Stadium can be considered a decent one, but given that Derby had failed to win any of their last six encounters, Slavisa Jokanovic might feel that it was a missed opportunity against the Rams. They were the last of the top four to play yesterday, so knew that top spot was theirs with a win as Bournemouth were held by Ipswich, but they are now two points behind Boro and one adrift of the Cherries in second.
Their record against those around them might be poor, but Monday's game is Watford's last against one of their promotion rivals ahead of a relatively favourable end to the season.
Despite the recent lull, no team has won more games than Watford (22) and no team has scored more home goals (44). Overall they are averaging exactly two goals a game with 80 in total, second only to Bournemouth (83).
In fact, Watford have scored double the amount of goals at home (44) than Boro have on their travels (22), but the visitors do possess the meanest defence and enter the match at the summit.
Recent form: WDWWLD
Middlesbrough
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Stingy Boro are back on top following yesterday's narrow 1-0 win over down-in-the-dumps Wigan Athletic. Aitor Karanka's side sent the Latics second-bottom, but it was a better win than it might first appear as Wigan had won their four previous away games.
Patrick Bamford has been in fine form of late and again proved to be the match-winner with his 15th league goal of the season, and fifth in six games. The most recent four in that run have all proved vital winning goals for his side as the likes of Kike, Jelle Vossen and Lee Tomlin have gone off the boil.
By keeping Wigan out, Boro kept their league-best 18th clean sheet of the season. They have let in just 30 goals in 40 games - an average of 0.75 a game - and are clearly the standout defensive side in the league.
While Watford have a poor record against those around them, Boro have often been at their best against the other five sides in the playoff places and lead our top six head-to-head league. They will hope to build on that strong form against the best teams as half of their last six games are against others in the top eight.
They have been off-colour away from home recently, though, with three defeats in four games and just one win in six on their travels.
Recent form: WLWWLW
Team News
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In a rare move, Jokanovic started all three of Troy Deeney, Matej Vydra and Odion Ighalo against Derby and the latter two were both on the scoresheet at the iPro Stadium. Deeney is often seen as the number-one forward option and it would be surprising to see him dropped, especially as he has scored in each of his last three appearances against Middlesbrough at Vicarage Road.
Recalling the likes of Almen Abdi and Daniel Tozser could be the safest bet to match the visitors in midfield, and Ighalo might be the most likely to drop out even though he scored the Hornets' equaliser yesterday.
In defence, Ikechi Anya could replace the suspended Motta at right-back, with Gabriele Angella and Craig Cathcart in the heart of the backline as Joel Ekstrand is a long-term absentee.
Karanka has no new concerns, but could freshen up his frontline with the likes of Tomlin and Kike ready for recalls. Left-sider Adam Reach might be the most likely to drop out in a move that could see Vossen switch to a position on the wing.
In defence, veteran defender Jonathan Woodgate might not be risked for a second game in three days and, if he is rested, new loanee Fernando Amorebieta is pushing for his first appearance after joining from Fulham.
Watford possible starting lineup
Gomes; Anya, Cathcart, Angella, Hoban; Layun, Watson, Guedioura, Tozser; Deeney, Vydra
Boro possible starting lineup
Konstantopoulos; Kalas, Amorebieta, Gibson, Friend; Adomah, Clayton, Leadbitter, Vossen; Tomlin, Bamford
Referee: Mike Jones
Head To Head
Two goals were shared when these two last met back in October, with Deeney cancelling out Kike's opener at the Riverside Stadium. Back then it was a clash between second and third and both sides have maintained their top-six place since.
Watford have won four of their last six home games against Middlesbrough and are unbeaten in four against the Teesside outfit.
Karanka's side might have an impressive defensive record this season, but they have conceded at least once in each of their last 10 trips to Vicarage Road.
We say: Watford 1-1 Boro
Both televised top-six clashes on Good Friday ended in draws and it is hard to pick a winner again here. Watford will be keen to finally beat one of their promotion rivals, but it will not be easy against by far the tightest defence in the league. Boro will want to return to the form that they showed in last month's wins over Ipswich and Derby, but both sides would probably take a point and hope to go up automatically together in a month's time.
Pascal Lemesre
