Eng. Championship
2012-04-06 - Watford vs Blackpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Friday 6 April 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Watford
The season is winding down quickly now and Watford find themselves still with some big ground to make up if they are to reach the Play Offs. They are the in-form team in the Championship over the last few games and could be a real spoiler for sides above them in the table.
Watford are 11th in the Championship table having earned 57 points so far this season, leaving them 6 points behind Brighton in 6th and the final Play Off positions. They have a 9-5-6 record at Vicarage Road this season, scoring 29 goals and conceding 29 in those games.
The team have won 5 of their last 7 Championship games to propel themselves into a position for a late assault on the Play Off positions. They are unbeaten in their last 7 games since a 0-3 home loss to Southampton at the end of February. Watford have a 4-1-1 record in their last 6 home games, and they have scored at least 2 goals in 4 of those games.
Adrian Mariappa, the sought after centre half, misses out for the home side again. It looks like they will be playing the same team that secured a 0-2 win at Leeds United last week.
Blackpool
Ian Holloway knows that automatic promotion is already gone for his side, but he will be looking for them to pick up some momentum in the final 6 League games that will give them a solid push into the Play Offs. Blackpool were impressive 3-0 winners against Southampton last week so confidence should be high as they travel south to Watford.
Blackpool are 5th in the Championship table, but they are still in with a big fight for their Play Off berth as 5 points separates Birmingham City in 4th and Cardiff City in 8th. They bring a 6-6-8 record to Vicarage Road, having scored 33 goals and conceded 36 in those games.
The team had been struggling to pick up results recently, but the win over Southampton should give them the relevant boost to their confidence. Goals continue flowing in their games, with at least 3 in their last 6 games in the League. Blackpool have lost 3 consecutive away games in the Championship, conceding at least 3 goals in each of those games.
Kevin Phillips will need to pass a late fitness test if he is to take his place in the squad. Roman Bednar is out, but Stephen Crainey and Barry Ferguson will both return to the squad.
Head to Head
Surprisingly, these two teams were involved in a 0-0 draw at Bloomfield Road earlier this season.
Games between the teams at Vicarage Road have usually been high-scoring events, with the last 5 games here seeing 3 draws and one win apiece.
5 of the last 6 games between the teams here have seen at least 3 goals scored.
Prediction
That last statistic from the head to head leads me my pick which will be backing goals as both Watford and Blackpool are capable of grabbing at least 3 goals on their own.
Watford have been in very good form recently and will feel they can at least go close to a Play Off berth if they can win 5 of their last 6 League games this season, and beating a team currently in those positions would be a vital three points for them.
They have been very good at home recently, and they have managed at least 2 goals in 4 of their last 6 games here, something they will believe they can replicate against a Blackpool defence that can be a little suspect.
Blackpool themselves are unlikely to sit back and look for a point in this one and their defensive concerns have been exposed in away games recently as they have conceded at least 3 goals in their last 3 away games in the Championship.
Ian Holloway doesn't allow his team to sit back and that usually means an entertaining game so taking the Overs looks the best pick in a fixture that has regularly provided goals at Vicarage Road.
The Pick :
Watford 2-2 Blackpool
