Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
Now, the relegation zone is much closer to Oxford United than the playoff spots, with just a two-point gap. The newcomers face the daunting task of proving their Championship mettle away at one of the most formidable home sides, Watford, who are currently in third place. Securing even a single point would be an achievement, considering the precarious situation they find themselves in.
Watford
Before returning to action at Vicarage Road, Watford dropped points on the road, losing to Swansea City (0:1). It’s hardly a surprise against the team that concedes as sparingly as the Championship leaders (just nine goals). However, Watford are different at home, conceding less than one goal per match on average (0.67). Their scoring is modest too, typically netting two goals per game, with the total over 3.5 goals never occurring in their home games.
Oxford United
Oxford have also struggled to score on the road. They've only managed to score two goals in matches against Coventry City and Luton Town, but this only earned them a single point. Oxford tend to falter away from home, collecting just two points from six away fixtures. The total over 3.5 goals has been met only twice in these encounters.
Watford vs Oxford United Prediction
Considering all the above, it seems likely that the home team will emerge victorious, likely scoring two goals, with the overall total under 3.5 goals. Both teams are highly dependent on their home form.
