Premier League – Watford v Swans at 15:00 on Saturday, 12th September 2015
Referee: Robert Madley
Assistants: M McDonough, M Perry
Fourth Official: C Breakspear
The Swans venture to Vicarage Road to meet Premier League new boys Watford full of confidence after putting Manchester United to the sword in their last league game before the international break.
It is almost 5 years since the Swans last played Watford, when the boys in black and white ran out 3-2 winners in that Championship game – it was also the Swans first away win of the 2010/11 season.
With Andrew Ayew having been named Premier League Player of the Month for August and Jefferson Montero likely to return to the starting line up, the Swans look like being back at their most potent, with an abundance of pace and goal scoring threat. If Bafetimbi Gomis can hit the net for the 5th successive league game, he’ll join a group of only 4 other players who have achieved the same feat in PL history!
Some of the media are suggesting a Premier League debut for Franck Tabanou in order to rest Neil Taylor, and Ki starting on the bench due to him clocking up over 13,000 miles travelling to play for his native South Korea in Asian Cup and World Cup qualifier games. Personally, I’d be surprised to see Taylor rested.
One potential problem for the Swans, unlike their opponents, is the fact that six of the Swans likely sarting line-up (excluding Ki) are likely to be somewhat tired having travelled and played in two international games over a four day period. Only time will tell how much of a factor it will be.
So what can we expect from the Premier League draw specialists? Well they haven’t scored in the league since the opening day draw at Goodison Park, but with the Hornets having invested heavily before the transfer window closed in Obbi Oulare, Roma forward Victor Ibarbo and Adlene Guedioura, they are likely to be more of an attacking threat than the stats suggest.
The gaffer Quique Flores’, has got the Hornets playing some decent counter-attacking football, which has been relatively successful away from home but he will probably need to adopt a different approach at home if they are to survive in the Premier League this season.
One player to watch out for will be former Swans target and now Watford skipper, Troy Deeney, whom the Hornets paid up to £500,000 for but has yet to find the onion sack this season.
As for the pundits, well Mark Lawrenson – arguably the most anti-Swans pundit last season – is setting on the fence this week, and going for a 1-1 draw adding:
The Hornets can pick up another draw, but it will not be easy.
Sky pundit Paul Merson is once again backing the Swans with a 2 nil prediction.
Here’s one final bit of useless information for you to ponder, the last Watford goalscorer against the Swans (in March 2011) was a certain Danny Graham!
Last Swans result at the Vicarage Road
28 September 2010: Watford 2 Swans 3
Current League Form
Watford: DDDL
Swans: DWDW
Predicted Swans Starting XI:
Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Williams (Capt), Taylor, Cork, Shelvey, Ayew, Sigurdsson, Montero, Gomis.
SCFC2 Prediction
Watford 1 Swans 1
At the Bookies
Those of you who fancy a flutter might want to check out the odds being offered on the game at the moment.
Sky Bet are offering Bafetimbi Gomis at 11/2 or Andre Ayew at 6/1 to be the first goalscorer.
You can also get a Swans win of 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 at 5/2 with Sky Bet.
If you’ve not got a Sky Bet account, they are currently offering a FREE £20 when you bet just £5.
We paid £250,000 for Deeney, not £12 million.
Thanks Gareth – amended accordingly and congrats on the win!