Preview:Watford vs Southampton - prediction, team news, lineups

Watford and Southampton square off at Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon with both teams having put together solid starts to the new Championship campaign.

Four points have been collected from each of their three games to leave them 11th and 10th position in the table respectively.

Match preview

Having taken over a squad that was largely devoid of confidence, Will Still can be content with the start that his Southampton players have made to the new season.

Four points were collected from two games against Wrexham and Ipswich Town respectively, the Saints coming from behind to earn a point at Portman Road.

However, Still witnessed Southampton fail to get the better of a Stoke City side last weekend that played the majority of the second half with 10 men, the visitors prevailing by a 2-1 scoreline at St Mary's.

That had the potential to knock Southampton's faith in what they are trying to produce under Still, yet they stormed to a 3-0 victory at Norwich City in the EFL Cup second round on Tuesday night.

Southampton have now conceded just once in three away fixtures in all competitions under Still, while also netting in each of their five encounters.

As for Watford, they have played just the four games having suffered defeat to Norwich in the first round of the EFL Cup earlier in the month.

At the time, back-to-back losses had been recorded, Charlton Athletic edging the Hornets out on the opening weekend, but Paulo Pezzolano's team have since responded with four points from their following two contests.

A 2-1 victory was posted against Queens Park Rangers before a 1-1 draw was earned at Swansea City, the Welsh side netting their equaliser eight minutes from full time.

Nevertheless, given the upheaval over the summer, Pezzolano and his players will feel that the foundations are being laid ahead of a potential playoff push.

Watford Championship form:

L W D

Watford form (all competitions):

L L W D

Southampton Championship form:

W D L

Southampton form (all competitions):

W W D L W

Team News

Pezzolano could plausibly decide to stick with the Watford XI that started at Swansea should there be no injury issues.

Kwadwo Baah will likely remain among the replacements despite being the first introduction in the last two league games.

Imran Louza serves the second game of his three-match ban after his sending off against QPR.

Ryan Manning will continue at left wing-back with Welington having suffered a long-term injury in the defeat to Stoke.

Cameron Archer could be preferred to Adam Armstrong in attack, while Damion Downs is also pushing for a start in a front two with Mateus Fernandes seemingly on his way to West Ham United.

Watford possible starting lineup:

Selvik; Alleyne, Keben, Abankwah; Ngakia, Sissoko, Kyprianou, Kayembe, Bola; Kjerrumgaard, Irankunda

Southampton possible starting lineup:

Bazunu; Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Stephens; Fraser, Downes, Charles, Manning; Robinson; Archer, Downs

We say: Watford 1-2 Southampton

Watford have already shown this season that they have the qualities to ensure that they avoid any kind of a relegation battle. Nevertheless, this is a step up from the opposition that they have already faced, leaving us to predict an away win by a narrow margin.

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