Beppe Sannino’s Watford will be deflated after yet another last-minute defeat, this time at the hands of QPR at Loftus Road. The most recent of several goals conceded within the last few minutes of crucial games, Charlie Austin’s 89th minute strike has left the Hornets almost completely out of reach of sixth place, and only the most optimistic fan can cling onto any playoff hope that may remain.
Derby County on the other hand are flying high, and this appears to be largely down to the work of manager Steve McClaren. His record since taking over is exemplary, having won a staggering 21 of the 36 games he has overseen.
The Rams are especially impressive at Pride Park, having the fourth-best home record over the course of the entire season, but the best of the division from when McClaren took over in late September 2013.
The Hornets will be looking to reverse the Rams’ form and indeed their own, as Derby’s excellent home record will need to be blemished by a Watford side who have only won once away from home since the start of October 2013.
Vital Quotes:
Italian midfielder Cristian Battocchio says that Watford are still in the hunt for sixth, but it will take an impressive run of results:
“We are still running for the playoffs.
“We must believe in it and focus on the Derby game.
“It is still difficult. I don`t think Derby will make it easy for us. They will want to win and that brings pressure.
“If we want to go to the playoffs we have to win the next three games.”
(From the official site.)
Beppe Sannino will be hoping for another good away following from Hornets fans at Pride Park, after a full away allocation cheered his men on despite losing 2-1 at Loftus Road last week. Speaking to the Watford Observer, Sannino explained how important the fans are, and how different it is in England to his coaching days in Serie B:
“You can`t even imagine how different it is.
‘The average is nearly 16,000 at Vicarage Road. When I started my job as coach at Varese [Italy`s League 2 equivalent] there were 2,000 or 3,000 people. When I finished my work at Varese there were 10,000 fans but that was the playoff semi-final (in Serie B, the same level as the Championship).
“In England I am impressed by how many people follow this league. Every time I speak with my colleagues and friends in Italy I say ‘you can`t even imagine how many supporters we have in the stadium`.
“Monday was fantastic; I was impressed by our supporters. For a football player or a manager it is fantastic, it`s very emotional.”
Sannino also spoke with the Watford Observer about the slim hopes some fans may have of the playoffs, and his belief that the Hornets may have to revert to a style that is less easy on the eye in order to secure a much-needed win on the road:
“We still have a chance, so we are looking to finish in the top six.
“Of course, if you look at the long vision there are thoughts on next season but we need to finish this season first.
“As professionals we have to make sure that the people who pay to watch us are repaid with our best efforts. We will never lack commitment and spirit at Watford.
“I`ll let you in on a little secret, I would rather play ugly and win the game. You can be very good, a beautiful team but lose. Nil points.”
Steve McClaren has his sights firmly set on third place ahead of the game tomorrow. The Rams urrently occupy this position, but McClaren believes it is very important to continue the form that has seen his side sit just below the automatic promotion places coming into the final set of games of the regular season. Speaking to dcfc.co.uk, he said the following:
“We want to finish where we are now, in third place.
“We`ve come too far to let it slip away now.
“We need a point and we must get ourselves over the line.
“We`ve had other challenges along the way this season and achieved them, so this is the next one.
“There`s the opportunity to achieve a record points total in a season as well so there`s plenty to play for.
“The players have to perform on Saturday, otherwise there are others waiting in the wings or in the stands that could take their place.
“It`s all about doing the job and not slackening off by even one per cent.
“As we`ve said many times before, we want to approach the play-offs in good form.”
Derby County Team News:
Derby have no new injury or suspension worries going into this match.
Player to watch: Chris Martin
From the Watford Observer:
The goals of former Norwich City frontman Chris Martin have played a big part in the Rams` progress this term.
Signed from the Canaries following his release last summer, the 25-year-old has enjoyed easily his best season to date, scoring 22 goals in 44 starts in all competitions.
The barrel-chested forward had finished the 2012/13 campaign on loan at Pride Park, with Clough wasting little time in securing the former England Under-19 forward`s services on a permanent basis last summer.
Martin had previously spent seven years at hometown club Norwich, scoring 25 league goals in 76 starts for the Canaries, with his most prolific season coming in 2009/10 when he netted 17 times as City were promoted from League One back into the second-tier under Paul Lambert.
Watford Team News:
Fernando Forestieri will remain on the sidelines for tomorrow’s match, but a fit-again Ikechi Anya will allow room for attacking changes, as he may revert to the second striker’s position that he has been deployed in on a number of occasions following his recovery from an Achilles injury that kept him out of the QPR tie on Monday.
Park Chu-Young remains out, and looks to miss the rest of the season with a skin infection affecting his toe.
Player to watch: Troy Deeney
A purple patch for top scorer Troy Deeney has recently come to an end, having not scored since the start of the month in a thumping 3-0 win over Leeds at Vicarage Road.
A goal or two from him would have helped in the last game, where Watford dropped points at Loftus Road after having the lead courtesy of a goal from strike partner Mathias Ranegie.
If Watford are to succeed at Pride Park, more than one goal will likely be needed, as Derby are second only to Leicester for goals scored in the league, and Watford are far too prone to conceding late on to enter the final stages of this game with just a one goal lead.
If Deeney plays well, Watford could do well, but if he is kept quiet it may well be a long afternoon for the Hornets.
Match Prediction
Another late loss for Watford at Loftus Road could mean one of two things; the Hornets may be deflated and without confidence, or they could have that extra bit of bite, in an attempt to right the wrongs of so many recent games where points have been dropped late on.
Derby have the luxury of only needing a single point to confirm third place, and may even rest players in an attempt to be fully fit across the squad for their playoff ties.
McClaren however has been vocal in his insistence that the Rams must enter the playoffs in good form so it is doubtful that there will be any let up in their ruthless home form.
I fancy Watford to come out fighting, but ultimately come up short against a County side that know what it feels like to keep up a run of good form.
I’ll go with another late goal conceded by Watford, but this time to surrender just two points.
2-2, with a late goal or two to confirm Watford’s deep-set psychological frailties.
I’d love to predict otherwise, but with each team’s respective form, this is probably fairly a fairly optimistic outlook…!
Next Fixtures:
Charlton (A) 29/04/14 19:45
Huddersfield (H) 03/05/14 12:15
