Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
Sheffield Wednesday were one of the three Championship clubs competing for a place in the League Cup quarter-finals. They were ultimately defeated by Brentford in a penalty shootout, which drained their resources. Will this give Watford an edge to secure an away victory?
Sheffield Wednesday
Danny Röhl completely rotated the starting lineup compared to their Championship game against Portsmouth (2:1), allowing the regulars to rest in a match where victory was initially unlikely. Only one substitution was forced, when central defender Akin Famewo had to be replaced in the first half against Portsmouth. The verdict is unfortunate: an Achilles injury, meaning several months out of action. He's been a key player for three consecutive years. It's crucial for Sheffield Wednesday not to concede, as they've failed to score in three of their last five home matches, resulting in a total under 2.5 in four of those five fixtures.
Watford
Watford claimed another victory at Vicarage Road, this time defeating Blackburn Rovers (1:0), marking their seventh home win. However, their form on the road is a different story, with goals and points much harder to come by. They have lost six consecutive away games, including to Manchester City (1:2) in the League Cup. Their only success came in the first round against Millwall (3:2), with the winner scored in the 90th minute.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford Prediction
In their last five head-to-head encounters, Watford have the advantage with two wins and three draws. The victories were by 1:0 scores, while the draws were either 0:0 (two in Sheffield) or 1:1. We're not making a prediction in favour of the visitors, as we trust the statistics, but placing a bet on a total under 2.5 is a solid option.
