Bournemouth vs Watford preview
WATCH: Quique's press conference is now live on http://t.co/qzc9w6yTzQ as he previews @afcbournemouth v #watfordfc pic.twitter.com/WSTtxMDKAu
— Watford FC (@WatfordFC) October 1, 2015
Watford are actually two points above the Cherries thanks to impressive wins against Swansea City and Newcastle United. Quique Sanchez Flores’s men will look at this as a winnable game and a chance to bounce back after the disappointing defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend.
The Hornets will also hope to avenge the defeat they suffered at Bournemouth the last time these sides met in January. Watford lost 2-0 because of a controversial decision to dismiss defender Gabriele Angella just 28 seconds into the game.
Bournemouth team news
- Mings, Gradel and Wilson (all knee) are out.
- Captain Tommy Elphick (Achilles) and Harry Arter (thigh) are also expected to play no part in this clash.
Watford team news
- Valon Behrami will serve the final game of his three-match suspension.
- Sanchez Flores has no fresh injury concerns so Lloyd Doyley (neck) and Joel Ekstrand (ACL knee) remain the only injury absentees for the Hornets.
Bournemouth vs Watford prediction
Howe and his men probably spent the last week in training working on adapting their offensive style to suit Glenn Murray, who is expected to spearhead the attack in Wilson’s absence. He is more of a targetman, so the Cherries will need more crosses into the box to get the best out of the ex-Crystal Palace centre forward.
Marc Pugh and Matt Ritchie could start as the wide midfielders in a 4-4-2 formation. Thoey can link-up with overlapping full-backs and provide crosses into the box. Lee Tomlin could be the supporting striker, helping Murray up top while also dropping deeper to join the central midfielders in building attacks.
Watford could start in a similar 4-4-2 formation, but their wide midfielders – Jose Manuel Jurado and Almen Abdi – will drift infield aiming to help central midfielders link-up play centrally. That means Ikechi Anya and Allan Nyom will have to bomb forward from full-back positions to add width to the Hornets’ attack.
Troy Deeney should continue working just behind Odion Ighalo, where he will provide a target for long balls and create chances for the Nigerian forward. Ighalo will probably work on the shoulder of the last Bournemouth defender, aiming to make runs in behind.
Both sides are looking to bounce back from disappointing defeats but the Cherries will probably be the dominant side. That could suit Watford with the pace of Ighalo up top on the break.
Score prediction
Bournemouth 2-2 Watford
