WATFORD, Key man: Troy Deeney

WATFORD
Position: 3rd
Points: 65
Form: WWLWWW
Up next: Wolves (a)
Sky Bet promotion odds: 5/4

Key man: Troy Deeney

It was Odion Ighalo’s extraordinary scoring streak of 14 goals in 10 games that propelled Watford forwards in 2015 so when the Nigerian striker was injured against Rotherham it might have damaged their hopes. Instead Deeney has taken on the mantle, leading the comeback against Leeds by powering between two defenders and then following up by netting the only goal of the game in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Fulham. He’s now scored in the last three games to help the Hornets maintain momentum.

Troy Deeney has picked up where Odion Ighalo left off for Watford

Beagrie’s expert view

Slavisa Jokanovic has definitely made a difference since he has come in. There were questions asked about him because it didn’t happen overnight but he has, at times, managed to shoehorn three of the top strikers into the side. It’s risk and reward with Watford, they play a brilliant brand of counter-attacking football and at one stage they had played 14, won seven and lost seven. That’s the way they play and at the moment it’s very rewarding. They are in position for an assault on an automatic place and they are better equipped than most to deal with the pressure because it’s not on them as much as it is Middlesbrough, Derby and Norwich, with the bigger squads.

Opta stat: Championship top scorers Watford also have the highest shooting accuracy of 50.3 per cent