After a bitterly disappointing trip to Bournemouth, all but decided within the first minute by an incorrect refereeing decision, Slavisa Jokanovic’s Watford side will be looking to harness the anger and fight the Hornets found on the south coast back at Vicarage Road.
Last time out, with just 10 men for over 90 minutes, Watford fought hard against an organised and attack-minded Bournemouth team who eventually ran out 2-0 winners.
This spirit and resolve could be important today against a resilient and strong Blackburn side, who have a tendency towards physicality and directness.
Lee Bowyer’s Rovers are not as prolific on the road as they are at Ewood Park, having not won away from home since October. However, the Hornets would be foolish not to enter the game with anything but determination.
Watford have a less than impressive record against Blackburn, having won only one of the last six meetings, a 4-0 victory at Vicarage Road in April 2013.
Sitting in ninth, Rovers will be looking to regain ground on the play-off pack that they are chasing, with Watford looking to further the gap between them and the rest, so that the focus can be on looking up rather than down.
Vital Quotes:
Slavisa Jokanovic: ‘READY TO FIGHT.’:
“In my opinion, my team in the last month have started to really be a team. They have started believing in themselves and started believing in teamwork and their team-mates, and this is good news for us.
“We found last week a strange situation and we tried to give an answer in the field, although in the end we lost the game.
“But now in this moment I believe my team are ready to fight for the three points which are in front of us.
“We have in the next three months a very tough and very hard period for us, and really I believe we can make good steps.
“What I believe is one thing, but my team have started to believe too that we have a good possibility and we are ready to fight for these points. At the end we are going to know where we are going to be.
“It is very important [to start the game well]. We need to find rhythm, we need to start the game with strong passing and playing quickly, because if we are half-waiting or half-sleeping in the game we are in trouble.
“We must know, especially in the Championship, for the first 20 minutes it`s very hard, very fast and physical as well.
“We must be ready for the start of the game.”
Lee Bowyer: ‘WE CAN SCORE GOALS AGAINST THEM.’:
“Recent games against Watford certainly haven`t been dull affairs.
“We are two teams that play attractive football.
“Watford are very good going forward, so we will have to be on our guard to contain the goal threat that they have.
“We have proved in the last two meetings that we can score goals against them, so I`m sure they will be equally concerned with our attacking options.
“It is up to us to put a run together. We haven`t been playing badly, but we just haven`t had the rub of the green.
“We had a great win against a good Fulham side and that has definitely given the players a boost.
“We worked hard and got our rewards and now we have to do that against a very good Watford side. And there is no doubt in my mind that we have the capacity to do that.
“We want to get three points and close that gap between ourselves and the top six, but there is still so much more football to play.
‘We aren`t just pinning everything on this particular game.”
Watford Team News:
Almen Abdi and Fernando Forestieri may make their return to the squad today following hamstring injuries.
Abdi has not appeared for the Hornets for almost a month, and Forestieri’s last match was away at Chelsea in the FA Cup at the start of the year.
Both players will be assessed ahead of the game to see whether they are fit enough to play.
Juan Carlos Paredes is also back in contention again after missing last Friday’s match at Bournemouth due to illness.
Gabriele Angella is available for selection despite his first minute sending off last time out, as his red card has been rescinded.
Longer-term absentee Joel Ekstrand remains out with a lower back injury, as does Sean Murray, who is recovering from knee surgery.
Player to watch: Odion Ighalo
Odion Ighalo continues to be the man in form despite not netting against Bournemouth.
The Nigerian is joint top-scorer with club captain Troy Deeney, and will look to cause Blackburn problems today.
His ability with the ball at his feet is something that should make him difficult to play against – if he shows the same kind of skill and determination as he did against the 11 men of Bournemouth last week, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see his endeavours result in a goal for the 25-year-old.
Blackburn Rovers Team News:
Target man Rudy Gestede is available again after missing Rovers’ previous game against Fulham. Gestede netted a late equaliser in the return fixture at Ewood Park earlier on in the season.
On-loan Jay Spearing may also feature for Rovers following an impressive debut last time out. Spearing was reportedly a target for the Hornets in January, but Watford missed out on the central midfielder.
David Dunn is ruled out for the match, but powerful winger Josh King may return.
Player to watch: Jordan Rhodes
Blackburn’s frontline is strong and powerful, and is often supplied through direct play through the middle or down the wings. The strength and power up front is epitomised by Jordan Rhodes.
With Gestede alongside this season, Rhodes has been a force to be reckoned with. If he is on form he will score, and the Watford back line will need to focus on nullifying his presence, either through the restricting of crosses into the box, or by man marking the strikers.
Match Facts & Stats
Blackburn have not won any of their last seven away games in the Championship, losing three. Their last league win on the road was 3-1 at Nottingham Forest on 25 October.
Next Fixtures:
Watford have won only one of the last six meetings between the two sides.
