Premier League preview and odds: Watford vs. West Ham United

Published on: 30/10/2015

Premier League preview and odds: Watford vs. West Ham United

October 31, 2015 15:00pm Vicarage Road

Premier League

Newly-promoted Watford will be the latest team to face the challenge of high-flying West Ham United when the teams meet at Vicarage Road in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.

Watford lack home advantage

Watford continue to surprise and intrigue in equal measure. Of the three teams that were promoted from the Championship, the Hornets were many pundits favourites to slip straight back down the relegation pole. However, they have so far defied all expectations.

After three games without a win, Quique Flores side once again ignored the scri pt to grab all three points from their visit to the Britannia Stadium last weekend. The 2-0 triumph over Stoke was only their third win of the season but it took their points tally to 13 and left them in 13th place in the table ahead of their promoted peers.

Watford will also have been boosted by the fact that someone other than Odion Ighalo scored the goals in the win over Stoke. Until last weekend, the Nigerian was the only player left at the club to have scored this season (Miguel Layun netted on the first day but was loaned to Porto straight after).

Most pleasing of all, would have been the strike from club Captain Troy Deeney. Despite some good performances, Deeney has struggled to reproduce the goal-scoring prowess that propelled the Hertfordshire side to promotion last term.

The concern for Watford ahead of this clash will be their home form. They have only managed one win at Vicarage Road this term and have only scored one goal in front of the home crowd.

Hammers strong on the road

Following their recent 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea, West Ham are now unbeaten in seven matches and head into this game as one of only three teams yet to lose away from home in the current campaign (Southampton and Leicester being the others). Of their five road trips so far, four have produced maximum points, while the other resulted in a draw.

As a result of their impressive displays, the Hammers are now positioned just two points behind the Premier League leaders in third place. They have scored more goals away from home than other team and only West Brom have conceded fewer on their travels.

Team news Jose Manuel Jurado is close to a return for the home side after recovering from a hamstring injury but this game may come too soon for the Spanish midfielder.

Meanwhile for the Irons, Winston Reid is in contention after a spell on the side-lines and Andy Carroll could be in line for his first start of the season after finally overcoming his knee problems. Recent form (League)

Watford: WLDLW

West Ham United: WWDDW

Betting odds and tips

With Watfords inability to score at home and West Hams impeccable record on the road, this game looks like a prime candidate for an away win. The Hammers can be backed at 2/1 to prevail with Betfred.

Watford struggle to score on home soil but they don´t concede many either, making the 9/1 available from Bet365 for a 0-1 away wine look like the choice bet in the Correct Score market.

Published on: 30/10/2015

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (30/10/2015 12:08:48) but are subject to change.