Preview: Bournemouth vs. Watford

Both Bournemouth and Watford will be looking to build on midweek FA Cup wins when they face each other at the Goldsands Stadium on Saturday.

Bournemouth cruised into the fourth round at the first time of asking with a 4-1 victory over Burton Albion, giving the Cherries their first victory of 2014.

Eddie Howe's side have been in solid, if unspectacular, form since ending a seven-match winless streak in December and will go into Saturday's match with just one defeat in their last six games.

If they can extend that run with a victory then they would leapfrog Watford in the Championship table, with the two teams currently sitting level on 30 points.

Both teams are equidistant from the playoffs and the relegation zone with a mid-table finish looking the most likely scenario at this stage in the season.

Bournemouth top scorer Lewis Grabban is nearing a move to Brighton & Hove Albion after they reportedly matched his minimum release clause, meaning that Brett Pitman is likely to start up front alone on Saturday.

Watford come into this match in very similar form to their opponents, with both sides registering two wins, two draws and one defeat in their last five outings.

The Hornets' extended league form leaves a lot to be desired, however, with just one win in their last 13 matches taking them from genuine promotion contenders to mid-table mediocrity.

Unusually, Watford's away form has remained decent throughout that appalling spell, with the team unbeaten in their last six games on their travels, last losing at the start of October.

However, their most recent six away matches in all competitions have resulted in a share of the spoils, and Giuseppe Sannino will be desperate to turn those draws into wins as soon as possible.

He is likely to name Fernando Forestieri up front alongside Troy Deeney, but Alexander Merkel is unavailable due to suspension.

Recent form

Bournemouth: WWDDLW

Watford: DWDDLW

Possible starting lineups

Bournemouth: Camp; Francis, Elphick, Ward, Daniels; Pugh, O'Kane, Arter, Surman, Ritchie; Pitman

Watford: Almunia; Doyley, Ekstrand, Angelia; Pudil, Murray, McGugan, Faraoni, Bellerin; Deeney, Forestieri

Sports Mole says: 1-1