Preview: Watford vs Swansea City - prediction, team news, lineups

Watford welcome Swansea City to Vicarage Road on Saturday, with the Hornets eyeing a return to the playoff places while their visitors attempt to steer clear of being dragged into the Championship’s ever-shifting lower reaches.

With just one point separating the hosts from the top six and Swansea hovering in mid-table mediocrity, this encounter carries the familiar sense of a season-defining afternoon disguised as a routine fixture.

Match preview

The hosts arrive without a win in their last four matches across all competitions, and after being held to a 1-1 draw by Blackburn Rovers last time out, Javi Gracia’s side will be eager to rediscover their cutting edge.

Vicarage Road has not witnessed a home victory since New Year’s Day, a commanding 3-0 success over Birmingham City.

With Imran Louza and Giorgi Chakvetadze pulling the strings in midfield, Watford possess the quality to match any opponent on their day, though inconsistency has stopped them from turning promise into a firm top-six grip.

Still, Saturday’s hosts can draw comfort from their strong home record, boasting the fourth-best return in the division and suffering just two defeats on familiar turf all season.

Swansea, meanwhile, arrive in Hertfordshire after a largely underwhelming campaign that prompted the dismissal of Alan Sheehan in November and the appointment of Vitor Matos in search of renewed direction.

A disappointing defeat to promotion-chasing Hull City last time out has left the Welsh outfit with just three away wins all season, the joint third-worst record in the Championship.

The hoped-for new-manager bounce has yet to materialise, with Matos overseeing only four wins from his first 10 matches in charge across all competitions.

The reverse fixture in August ended in a 1-1 draw at the Swansea.com Stadium, with Zan Vipotnik, Swansea’s talisman and the division’s leading scorer, rescuing a point late on with a dramatic 82nd-minute equaliser.

Watford Championship form:

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Watford form (all competitions):

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Swansea City Championship form:

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Swansea City form (all competitions):

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Team News

Othmane Maama made his return against Blackburn despite lingering fitness doubts following a leg injury picked up in the clash with Portsmouth.

After spending a prolonged spell on the sidelines, Rocco Vata was handed his first start since November, having previously been halted by a hamstring injury.

For Swansea, Joel Ward is on alert to step in for Ethan Galbraith, who was forced off at half time against Hull with what appeared to be a recurring problem, having also exited early in the previous match against Blackburn.

While Zan Vipotnik has enjoyed a productive campaign in front of goal, his strike partner Adam Idah, is expected to miss out through a groin injury.

Watford possible starting lineup:

Selvik; Ngakia, Keben, Abankwah, Bola; Kyprianou, Louza, Vata, Doumbia, Ince; Kjerrumgaard

Swansea City possible starting lineup:

Vigouroux; Ward, Cabango, Burgess, Tymon; Stamenic; Ronald, Franco, Widell, Eom; Vipotnik

We say: Watford 2-0 Swansea City

Watford’s strong home form at Vicarage Road should just about tip the balance here, especially against a Swansea side that have been unconvincing on their travels, with the the hosts' midfield quality likely to tell in a tight but scrappy contest.

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