Prediction: Huddersfield vs Watford

Verdict: Watford win

Best Odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: Unibet

Two sides who find themselves battling it out at opposite ends of the Championship table, Watford will make the trip to Huddersfield on Saturday afternoon.

Huddersfield

Starting with the hosts, while Huddersfield might have shocked many as they reached the play-off final last season, the Terriers have rather publically come crashing back down to earth this time around. Marking their return to Championship duties last weekend as they were hit with a 1-0 loss away at promotion contenders Sheffield United, Mark Fotheringham’s men find themselves at the heart of a relegation scrap. Sat rock-bottom of the table and already six points adrift of finding a route out of the drop zone, the Yorkshire-based outfit are enduring what has quickly become a second-tier nightmare. Although Saturday’s hosts might have claimed a much-needed 2-1 win away at QPR on November 8th, it looks like that was just a minor boost for Fotheringham’s struggling squad. Picking up just a pair of victories from any of their last nine showdowns against Championship opposition, Huddersfield should face another stern test here.

Team News

Make his return from injury last weekend away at Bramall Lane, Jonathan Hogg should be in line for a full recall on Saturday afternoon. Likewise, former Sheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes will be hoping to replace Danny Ward in attack.

However, the Terriers will once again be without the quartet of Patrick Jones, Yuta Nakayama, Matthew Pearson and Oliver Turton here.

Watford

As for the visitors, after making their return to action last weekend with a toothless 0-0 stalemate at home against Hull, there is no doubt that Watford will be seeking an immediate response here. With an immediate Premier League return at the top of their agenda this season, Slaven Bilic’s side have lost just one of their previous seven contests against Championship opposition. Opening Saturday’s showdown in Yorkshire looking to make up some ground in the top-two chase, the former West Ham boss should be boosted by his side’s recent rugged displays at the back. It should be noted, Saturday’s guests have managed to record a clean sheet in each of their last three second-tier showdowns. Smelling the chance to lay down a marker here, Watford should also be excited by their most recent meeting against the relegation scrappers. When the Hornets welcomed Huddersfield to Vicarage Road back in January 2021, Bilic’s side claimed a 2-0 victory on home soil.

Team News

Despite drawing a blank in each of Watford’s last four Championship appearances, Aston Villa loanee Keinan Davis should lead Bilic’s attack on Saturday afternoon. Limping off against Hull last weekend, Hamza Choudhury is a doubt in Yorkshire.

Likewise, the former West Ham boss looks set to be without the trio of Tom Cleverley, Imran Louza and Kourtney Hause here.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides last met back in January 2021, Watford claimed a 2-0 victory at Vicarage Road while on Championship duties.
• Huddersfield have managed to win just a pair of their previous nine battles against Championship opposition.
• Likewise, Saturday’s hosts have managed to muster just a single victory from any of their last four Championship home fixtures.
• Watford have recorded a clean sheet in each of their previous three second-tier appearances.
• The Hornets have collected seven points from their last three Championship contests away from Vicarage Road.

Conclusion

After marking their return to action last weekend with a 0-0 stalemate at home against Hull, Watford will be seeking an immediate response here. With their sights set on claiming a Premier League return this season, Saturday’s guests should be looking to cash in on a Huddersfield side who are enduring a real Championship nightmare. Sat rock-bottom of the table and tipped as a leading relegation pick this time around, Fotheringham’s side have collected just a pair of second-tier wins from their last nine attempts. With Watford claiming a 2-0 victory when they last faced off against Huddersfield last year, we’re backing a similar outcome on Saturday afternoon.

Verdict: Watford win

Best Odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: Unibet