Watford vs Preston — Tips & Analysis

Preston +0.5: Watford are the home side but they are not the better team just now. They have won 3, tied 4 and lost 9 of their last 16 games, and they did not score in either of their last two league games. Watford score less than a goal a game and let in almost 2 a game. They are also missing five players, with Baah, Bola, Grieves, Ngakia and Traore all ruled out. Preston arrive off a 2-1 win over Blackburn that ended a four game losing run. They travel better than they play at home. They won 2 and lost 3 of their last 5 road games, against 1 win in 8 at their own ground. The table has Watford 17th and Preston 23rd, but that gap is far bigger on paper than on grass. The history backs it up. Five of the last 11 meetings between them ended level, and the recent set includes a 2-2, a 1-1 and a 0-0. A nervy 1-1 fits both of these sides better than a one sided night, and that result suits the team we are backing. The worry is Preston's own record. They have lost 8 of their last 13 games and lost by 2 or more goals in 5 of them, so they can come apart quickly. Carroll and McCann are doubts as well. We still think Preston leave here without losing.