Woking vs Watford Predictions

In front of what is likely to be a packed Kingfield Stadium, Woking, who currently ply their trade in the sixth tier of English football, will be looking for a historic result when they host Premier League Watford on Sunday afternoon. Given the standing of both sides, it’s difficult to see the hosts coming out on top, but stranger things have happened in this famous competition.

At their own level, Woking are enjoying a fine campaign. Sunday’s visitors are currently second in the National League South, though their efforts against fellow non-league sides isn’t likely to cut much ice against a very strong Championship side. In the previous round, Woking did edge past League Two’s Swindon, which was an excellent result for the sixth-tier club, though there’s a massive difference between taking on a mid-table fourth division side and taking on Premier League opposition.

Moreover, whenever they have made it through to a notable stage of the competition, Woking have tended to come up short against higher-level opponents. They lost by three goals to nil against Accrington at this venue back in 2016 and while they did force a replay against League One’s Peterborough last season, they were eventually beaten 5-2 by the third-tier side.

It would be easy to assume that this is a fixture that Watford could do without, though after they failed to win despite leading 2-0 and eventually scoring goals away against Bournemouth on Wednesday evening, Javi Gracia’s men will be keen to resume winning way. This fixture against non-league opponents provides the Premier League side with the perfect opportunity to run riot.

At the prices, the bet that stands out is ‘Watford -2 Asian Handicap’. This is the very definition of a “banana skin” game for the visitors. If they’re not somewhere near their best at a tricky non-league venue, then they could end up being embarrassed, though if both teams play to somewhere near their best, then there’s likely to be a massive disparity in terms of quality.

Not only have the hosts struggled against higher-level teams at this stage of the competition in previous years, but Watford’s recent attacking efforts in the Premier League suggest that they can go to Kingfield Stadium and make light work of brushing aside National League South opponents.