Watford vs Crystal Palace Predictions

• Palace have scored 11 times in 12 away league trips
• Watford haven’t managed to score more than once in their last 11 games
• The Hornets have seen under 2.5 goals land in each of their last four

Familiar face to greet Palace

Having turned to Patrick Viera after Roy Hodgson seemingly retired at the end of last season, the Eagles will be greeted by their former boss at Vicarage Road on Wednesday. Hodgson is out to save the Hornets from the drop, having just claimed his first win on Saturday.

Watford remain four points shy of safety despite their weekend win, so picking up home wins is crucial for Hodgson. The Hornets will get few better opportunities, with Palace fourth-bottom in the form table.

Tough spell for Eagles

The visitors are winless in their last six games, while they head into this trip having failed to score across their last two games. Despite Viera’s side playing more attractive football, they are still plagued by last season’s issue – a lack of cutting edge.

Palace have scored only 11 times in their 12 trips this term, while they haven’t scored more than once in any of their last six league trips. However, they are met with an equally goal-shy attack on Wednesday given that Watford have scored only 11 in 12 at home this term.

Hornets tightening up

Watford have kept as many clean sheets in their four Premier League games under Hodgson (2) as they had in their 36 previous top-flight games combined. That’s a vital change which they need to continue in order to stay up.

However, Only Norwich City (15) have failed to score in more league games than Watford this season (12). The Hornets haven’t managed to score more than once in any of their last 11, scoring just six times. Their improving defence mixed with a misfiring attack has seen under 2.5 land in Watford’s previous four.

Watford are certainly changing into a Hodgson side, while the low-scoring, solid foundations of Palace still remain from his tenure there too. Given that, I’m backing under 2.5 goals in this clash, with a 1-1 draw my correct score prediction considering the pair have failed to win 19 and 20 league games respectively this term.

Watford predicted lineup: Foster; Femenia, Cathcart, Kabasele, Kamara; Sissoko, Louza, Cleverley; Sarr, King, Dennis

Crystal Palace predicted lineup: Butland; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Gallagher, Hughes, Kouyate; Olise, Edouard, Zaha