Watford and Bristol City will face off in the English Championship at Vicarage Road on Friday night.
The hosts are currently occupying 12th position in the standings, while the visitors are sitting 7th, outside the play-off places only due to their inferior goal difference.
After claiming an impressive 3-0 win over Middlesbrough last weekend, Watford have since earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw away at Ipswich.
Therefore, Hornets boss Javi Gracia will be hoping his side can remain on an upward curve by getting the better of Bristol City on Friday night.
Following a relatively strong start to the season, the Robins have hit the skids over the last week, suffering a 5-1 thrashing away at Stoke before going down 1-0 at home to Blackburn in midweek.
Consequently, Gerhard Struber’s side have fallen out of the top-six, though a Vicarage Road victory on Friday night would catapult them into 4th place.
How the bookies view it: Hornets set for top honours
BOYLE Sports have priced Watford up as even-money (1/1) favourites on Friday night. That price holds plenty of appeal given that the Hornets have won each of their last four English Championship home games.
Bristol City are 11/5 outsiders with BOYLE Sports while an all square affair at Vicarage Road is trading at 12/5 with the same firm.
Head to head: History favours the hosts
This is a fixture that has often seen the home team come out on top in recent seasons, with Watford emerging victorious from four of the last five meetings at this venue.
Players to watch: Imran in fine form
With an impressive return of six goals across his last eight appearances for Watford in the English Championship, Imran Louza looks a terrific anytime goalscorer option on Friday night at 11/4 on Bet365.
Having averaged 2.07 shots per game in this season’s English Championship, Bristol City defender Ross McCrorie represents value to register at least one attempt on goal during this contest at 7/10 with William Hill.
Predicted line-ups
Watford will once again be without the services of injured trio Caleb Wiley, Giorgi Chakvetadze and Rocco Vata.
As for the visitors, they could be without as many as 10 first-team players on Friday night, with Mark Sykes and Neto Borges the latest two players to check into the Ashton Gate treatment room.
Watford: Selvik; Ngakia, Abankwah, Pollock, Bola; Ince, Louza, Sissoko, Baah; V. Semedo, Doumbia
Bristol City: Vitek; Tanner, Dickie, Roberts; McCrorie, Randell, Vyner, Hirakawa; Twine, Riis, Mehmeti
Anything else catch the eye?
Watford look well worthy of support to score two or more goals on Friday night at 21/20 with BOYLE Sports.
The Hornets have struck at least twice in six of their seven English Championship home games this season, including each of their last four.
That doesn't bode well for a Bristol City side that shipped five goals away from home against Stoke last weekend.
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