Prediction and odds for the game: Watford (6/4) v Southampton (15/8)
We are backing the draw at odds of 23/10
When: Sunday, 28th June 2020, Kick-off 16:30
Where: Vicarage Road
On Sunday afternoon, Watford will look to aid their survival bid in the Premier League when the Hornets host Southampton at Vicarage Road.
Watford
The home side are just a point above the relegation zone, in what is a closer relegation fight than what we have seen in recent years in the English top-flight. There is now only a point separating 19th place from the Hornets in 16th position. Nigel Pearson’s team are in desperate of a win.
The home side has failed to win in their two games after the season restart, drawing with Leicester 1-1 before a 1-0 defeat at Burnley last time out. The loss at Turf Moor means that the Hornets have won just once in their previous nine Premier League outings.
Watford have been hard to beat on home soil in the Premier League of late, losing just one of their last league games at Vicarage Road. However, most of those games were played with the partisan crowd behind them. It may be slightly different with no fans in the ground.
A big negative for Watford heading into this clash is the fact that they have won just one of the last 11 meetings with the Saints.
Southampton
The Saints look to have little left to play for save a top-ten finish in the Premier League table. The visitors are ten points clear of the relegation zone, but their recent league form has been inconsistent. A 2-0 home defeat against Arsenal last time out was the visitors fifth league defeat in seven league matches.
The Saints have also struggled defensively in those recent league defeats, as they have conceded at least twice in four of those recent five losses in the Premier League. Although the visitors recent league games have not also been high-scoring, there have been at least two goals scored in nine of their last ten games in the English top-flight.
Southampton have been highly inconsistent on their travels in the Premier League. A 3-0 win at Norwich in their last away game ended a mini-run of two straight away defeats. In fact, the win means that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team have recorded victories in five of their last eight league games on the road.
The Saints will be confident of picking something up from their trip to Vicarage Road, as they are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions in games at Watford.
Conclusion
In truth, both these teams head into this game in unconvincing recent form in the Premier League. We can see this being a relatively tight game, so we are backing the draw and under 2.5 goals.
Verdict: We are backing the draw at odds of 23/10 and/or under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 4/5. (All odds are taken from Bet365).
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