Watford v Leicester: Foxes set for tricky afternoon in Hertfordshire
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While one side is flying higher than the other it’s fair to say that both Leicester and Watford have usurped the expectations of fans and pundits alike this term.
The Foxes continue their pursuit of a shock Premier League title win – for which they were 5000/1 at the start of the season – while Quique Sanchez Flores’ men looked to have all but wrapped up survival already.
Their clash at Vicarage Road will be only the second time they have met in Hertfordshire since an enthralling play-off second leg in the 2012-13 season.
That day City had the chance to seal things on aggregate with a Anthony Knockaert penalty late in the game, but Manuel Almunia’s save and Troy Deeney’s subsequent goal secured the Hornets’ path to Wembley.
Claudio Ranieri’s men will be looking to avoid late heartache again as they bid to press on in the title race with three points.
However, Watford could just throw a spanner in the works again as Vicarage Road has become somewhat of a fortress in recent months.
In their last five games in all competitions in front of their own fans they have conceded just one goal, keeping clean sheets in six of their last nine at home.
Indeed they nearly secured a point away at Old Trafford in midweek, a late Juan Mata free-kick breaking Heurelho Gomes’ reserve to leave Flores’ men ruing their luck.
They will have to go some to keep Leicester out in Saturday’s late kick-off with the Foxes only failing to score in one of their 17 away games in all competitions this term.
That being said, they are stoppable as West Brom showed in on Tuesday during their 2-2 draw and the absence of influential playmaker N’golo Kante will be a massive miss.
The King Power side have only won two of their last six matches on the road, making the 7/5 on a City win look a little skinny considering Watford’s new found tightness.
With championship rivals Arsenal and Tottenham facing off in the north London derby this weekend, the league leaders will see this as a must-win if they are to pull away from the chasing pack.
Watford will have other ideas though, and you can expect the hosts to provide their visitors with a frustrating afternoon in the home counties.
When all is said and done Foxes fans will be praying that the Hornets don’t sting their title hopes late on like they did their play-off ambitions three years ago.All odds and markets correct as of the date of publishing.
