Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
Burnley remain firmly in contention for the Championship title. They are currently level on 88 points with Leeds United, and with only four matches left in the season, every point is crucial. On Friday, they take on mid-table outfit Watford.
Watford
Watford appear to be losing momentum as the season winds down. Over their last five matches, they have suffered three defeats, drawn once, and picked up just a single win — that coming against relegation-threatened Hull City (1:0). They also failed to score against bottom-placed Plymouth Argyle, settling for a goalless draw. Their attacking options are further hindered by injuries to key forward players Kwadwo Baah (seven goal contributions) and Giorgi Chakvetadze (eight), contributing to a misfiring frontline that has produced only three goals in five games, with an average of 2.6 shots on target per match.
Burnley
For Burnley, playing against a side with clear attacking struggles presents a strong opportunity to collect points. They boast the best defensive record in the division, conceding only 13 goals in 42 matches. The real question is whether the squad can be clinical enough in front of goal. They've found the net in four of their last five games. The only exception was the match against Derby County, where they still managed 0.79 xG, enjoyed 70% possession, and registered nine shots.
Watford vs Burnley Prediction
In the reverse fixture, Burnley comfortably defeated Watford (2:1) at home. Watford are clearly out of form and have only managed to get results against sides near the bottom of the standings. It seems unlikely they will be able to seriously trouble one of the division’s front-runners.
