Week Three – Friday – Sport Grill

Recently relegated Watford and Burnley meet at Vicarage Road in Friday Night Football in 2022-23 Sky Bet Championship. 

Both teams currently are locked on four points apiece with Burnley sat fourth ahead of Watford on alphabetical order, with victory set to take either team top until Saturday afternoon.

Team News

Tom Dele-Bashiru is ruled out for Watford with a serious knee injury suffered during training this week.

Imran Louza (knee) and Samuel Kalu (hamstring) both remain absent.

New loan signing, Hamza Choudhury could make his Hornets debut in midfield.

Burnley could hand new loan signing, Nathan Tella his debut after the winger joined this week on a season-long loan from Southampton.

Ashley Westwood (ankle), Scott Twine, Jay Rodriguez (both knock), Johan Berg Gudmundsson (fitness) and Kevin Long (unspecified) remain absent.

Stat Attack

• Watford are unbeaten in their last six Championship meetings against Burnley (W1, D5).
• Burnley have won just one of their last five Championship visits to Watford (W1, D2, L2), but are unbeaten in their last four trips which came in Premier League (W3, D1).
• Both teams have scored in seven of their last eight second-tier meetings – except for a goalless draw in December 2013 at Turf Moor.
• Ashley Barnes has provided both assists for Burnley’s two league goals so far this season.
• Ismaila Sarr has provided both a goal and assist for Watford in their opening two league matches this season.

Prediction

Despite finding themselves largely outplayed at West Brom on Monday evening, Watford did a great job of snatching the lead through a stunning strike and defending well, amidst waves of Baggies’ attacks to ultimately claim a draw.

Burnley meanwhile were caught napping in the opening minutes of their draw against Luton but slowly worked their way into the match, which eventually saw them dominate the second half amidst wasteful finishing.

This clash though marks the start of a congested early-season period for both teams so I am expecting some tweaks in order to manage both squads, which could lead to a tight but open contest if both teams bring their best attacking game.

Prediction: Watford 1-1 Burnley