Eng. Championship
2012-11-03 - Watford vs Leicester City
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Saturday 3 November 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Watford
The last time I previewed a Watford game, I mentioned that the large turnover of personnel on the playing and management staff over the Summer meant it was likely that inconsistencies would exist through much of the season. Nothing much has changed on that front as this consolidation season under Gianfranco Zola continues moving forward.
Watford are 16th in the Championship table with 16 points to their name and it highlights the point I was making above when you notice they have won 5 and lost 7 of their opening 13 League games. They are 2-1-3 at home so far this season, scoring and conceding 6 goals in those games.
The side have lost 3 of their last 4 games, including back to back defeats at Cardiff City and Blackburn Rovers. Watford beat Peterborough United 1-0 in their last home game, but had previously failed to win any of 4 at Vicarage Road, losing 3 of those games.
Leicester City
Nigel Pearson continues pushing his side to achieve the goals that were set out for them over 12 months ago and earn promotion to the Premier League, but they have suffered a couple of setbacks in recent weeks. Now the team will look to bounce back as the busy Championship season continues.
The side are 2nd in the Championship and find themselves 3 points behind the leaders Cardiff City. Much of their best form has come at the KP Stadium this season, but Leicester are 2-1-3 away from home where they have scored and conceded 8 goals.
Leicester have only won 1 of their last 3 games and have picked up 4 points from a possible 9 after falling to their first home defeat of the season against Crystal Palace last weekend. The Foxes are unbeaten in their last 3 away games and they had won back to back games on their travels before earning a late 1-1 draw at Birmingham City in their last away game.
Head to Head
Watford have won back to back home games against Leicester City, both 3-2, and they are now unbeaten in 4 at Vicarage Road against them with 3 wins to their name.
Leicester have won just 1 of their last 6 at this ground.
Prediction
Watford are a tough team to read and so it makes life that much more difficult in picking a winner in their games. In saying that, I don't think Leicester City deserve to be as short as they are at a ground where they have regularly struggled in the recent past so I am ignoring the win-draw-win markets.
The two markets that did appeal to me were the over 2.5 goals and the time of last goal market- I have decided to back the overs, but the latter bet looks to have a decent shout with both teams scoring and conceding late goals in their recent games.
The overs looks the call to me as both sides look capable of getting on the scoreboard in this one, while neither side has been involved in too many draws as both have drawn just 1 of their 13 opening League games.
Watford have scored in 5 of their last 6 at home, while Leicester have conceded in 5 of their last 6... On the other hand, Watford have conceded 7 goals in their last 5 home games in which they have had 1 clean sheet, while Leicester have scored in every away game they have played this season.
Historically, this fixture has produced lots of goals with 9 of the last 11 between them producing at least 3 goals including 6 of the last 7 at Vicarage Road.
All of that makes the 1.85 on at least 3 goals being scored the best way to get on the game in my opinion.
The Pick :
Watford 1-2 Leicester City
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.85
