Derby Host Watford In Key Promotion Tie

Derby County will host Watford tomorrow with both sides looking to sustain their bids for promotion to the Premier League. Tomorrow`s hosts currently sit in the third play-off spot but are just five points behind Watford who occupy that final automatic promotion place. A home victory would see County reduce this gap to two and perhaps usurp fourth placed Norwich though there would need to be a considerable goal difference swing. Losing to Watford would put Derby in jeopardy of falling out of the play-off zone all together. On 67 points, this is the same amount as Ipswich in the final play-off place and just one more than seventh placed Brentford and two better than eighth placed Wolves. Any combination of these teams could push the Rams out of the top six.

Whilst a defeat would see Derby reduce the gap with the Hornets, Watford would also likely fall out of the top two. Their place in the final automatic position could be taken by either Middlesbrough in third or Norwich. As they are just one point behind league leaders Bournemouth however, victory over County would see them move into first position should the Cherries fail to beat fellow promotion candidates Ipswich.

The two sides have met once already this season, this in the reverse fixture at Watford`s Vicarage Road. Being held back at the end of November, it was the visitors who returned to Derby with all three points, managing to run out the 2-1 winners.

County broke the deadlock just five minutes from half time, former Liverpool loanee Jordan Ibe getting his name on the scoresheet to see Steve McLaren`s men take the lead. The game remained at 1-0 well into the second half until Gianni Munari levelled up for Watford with just over 20 minutes remaining. It wasn`t to be for Watford however, Craig Bryson hitting the back of the net with less than 10 minutes of the match to play sealing all three points for the away side.

All of 32red, 888sport and unibet have odds of 17/2 on Derby being able to beat Slavisa Jokanovic`s Hertfordshire side by two goals to one once again. Whilst bet365 have installed Munari at 8/1 to add to his tally of goals at any time, 14/1 (ladbrokes) says that Bryson will be the last goalscorer of the match. Most bookmakers have 10/11 on their being over 2.5 goals hit between the two sides tomorrow night.

Indeed Derby`s home advantage means that they are the slight favourites to get the better of the Hornets. The trio of betfred, Totesport and william hill all have the best price of 6/5 on a home win. In opposition, Betvictor`s 13/5 says that the visitors will be able to steal all three points by any means whilst the same price is also available on a draw (Numerous).

The Pride Park outfit will be aiming to grab their first victory in six games, the club managing to secure just two points from the last 18 on offer. Their home form is much better, their 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough in their last home game being their first loss in five Championship matches in front of their own supporters. Only twice have they managed to keep a clean sheet in these six home encounters and whilst a win to nil can be backed at 29/10 (Coral), 14/19 (888sport, unibet) is the price on both teams hitting the back of the net.

Watford are currently unbeaten in five on the road with 13 points from the maximum of 15. Troy Deeney has scored five of the 13 goals his side have netted in these five games and he is a 5/2 (32red, 888sport, unibet) chance to add to his tally at any time.

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02/04/2015     © Frixo 2024