Championship | Gameweek 23

Dec 26, 2024 at 3pm UK

Vicarage Road

Watford vs Portsmouth

Match preview

Watford are just one point off the play-off places having won 10, drawn four and lost seven of their 21 league games.

The Hornets recently enjoyed a six-match unbeaten run, including a narrow 2-1 home win over West Bromwich Albion.

Unfortunately for Watford, their unbeaten run came to an end away to Burnley, with Kwadwo Baah scoring a consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat.

After their disappointment at Turf Moor, Watford return to the comfort of Vicarage Road, where they have avoided defeat in 14 consecutive league games since a 3-1 loss to Coventry City in March.

Indeed, the Hornets go into the Boxing Day clash with the second-best defensive record in the Championship, having taken 26 points from their 10 home games this season.

Having kept four clean sheets in their last five home games, Tom Cleverley's side will be looking to continue their defensive dominance on Thursday as they seek a fifth successive home win over Portsmouth.

Portsmouth moved out of the relegation zone with a dominant win at Coventry City on Saturday, despite conceding a third minute goal.

Callum Lang produced a scintillating display, netting four times in a commanding 4-1 victory that extended Pompey's unbeaten home run to four games.

While they have impressed in recent home games, Portsmouth will need to improve on their away form if they are to move two points clear of safety.

John Mousinho's side have won just one of their 10 league games away from home this season (D4, L5), with their only victory coming against Queens Park Rangers in October.

Since that successful visit to Loftus Road, Pompey have lost three of their five away games, including a memorable 4-0 defeat away to Derby County.

The South Coast outfit will have their work cut out if they are to take maximum points from Thursday's game, having failed to win any of their previous eight away meetings with Watford since a 2-1 victory in April 1996.

Recent Performance

Watford Championship form:DWDDWL

Portsmouth Championship form:WDWDLW

Team News

Watford have no new injury concerns, although they are still without the services of Tom Dele-Bashiru and Kevin Keben.

Cleverley is hopeful that Imran Louza will be ready to return to the matchday squad after missing the recent defeat at Burnley.

Udinese loanee Vakoun Bayo will continue to lead the line for Watford, with the striker looking to add to his tally of nine goals this season.

The visitors will be without Kusini Yengi, Ibane Bowat, Jacob Farrell and Harvey Blair due to knee injuries.

Jordan Williams and Regan Poole are out with hamstring problems, while Conor Shaughnessy and Mark O'Mahony remain unavailable due to their respective injury problems.

Abdoulaye Kamara and Elias Sorensen return to the matchday squad after missing the win over Coventry through injury and illness respectively.

Possible starting lineup

Watford possible starting lineup:

Bachmann; Porteous, Sierralta, Pollock; Ngakia, Sissoko, Louza, Larouci; Baah, Chakvetadze, Bayo

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:

Schmid; Swanson, Pack, Towler, Ogilvie; Potts, Dozzell; Murphy, Lang, Ritchie; Bishop