Watford defender Tommie Hoban only doubt for trip to Nottingham Forest

8:00am Friday 25th January 2013 in Sport

Picture: Pippa Douglas Picture: Pippa Douglas

Watford will be looking to regain the tag as the best away side in the Championship during the next week.

The Hornets had the joint best away record in the division until last weekend, when Hull City drew 1-1 with Peterborough - but the Tigers have now played a game more.

Watford are the highest scoring away team in all four divisions and will be hoping to extend that record away to Nottingham Forest on Saturday and at Bristol City on Tuesday.

The Hornets go into the match with an almost clean bill of health. Fitz Hall is fit again and Tommie Hoban is the only current first team player who is expected to miss out due to his Achilles injury.

Forest are tenth in the Championship following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with rivals Derby County and Bristol are bottom, with no win in their last four.

Both teams have recently replaced their managers. Alex McLeish was appointed Forest boss on December 27 and Sean O’Driscoll replaced Derek McInnes at City on January 14.

Comments(20)

Gusthehorn says...
8:18am Fri 25 Jan 13

Watford got a good couple of mentions on talk sport yesterday. Labelled one of the "strongest teams" in the league, and people shouldn't look past us for promotion.

I'm excited!!

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watford1881 says...
8:50am Fri 25 Jan 13

We're classy now.. Everyone wants to beat us now.. It's every match will be very hard...

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stevyweavy says...
8:57am Fri 25 Jan 13

Win all our remaining matches and we get promoted simples!!!!

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goldenboy1993 says...
9:01am Fri 25 Jan 13

Have feeling we wont win this 1, if we do I think we will go up

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AngelHornet says...
9:05am Fri 25 Jan 13

I think Forest will try to bully us and play the long ball.

I'm going for a 2-2

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northofwatfordpete says...
9:12am Fri 25 Jan 13

Tough game but I think if we can nick one or keep them out for the first half then we can go on and win this one. Forest look vulnerable and the sacking of Sean O'Driscoll was a big mistake IMO. We will need One Size fit and mobile.

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The BestTrip2011 says...
9:14am Fri 25 Jan 13

This game is a potential banana skin. We can't get over-confident or gung-ho.
Having said that, how exciting is it these days to head off to an away game believing that you can beat anyone!

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Wimbledonhorn says...
9:21am Fri 25 Jan 13

Long balls to their new signing Henderson. However their centre halves are very slow. Probably need Hogg or Eustace in the middle of the park as Mcleish's teams are generally physical.

Expecting 4 points from the next 2 games.....

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aussihornet says...
9:30am Fri 25 Jan 13

No doubt, if Hall is 100% fit, he MUST come straight into the first 11. Really important game, no rotation here please Zola.

Almunia

Nosworthy
Hall
Ekstrand

Cassetti
Chalobah
Abdi
Battochio/Eustace
Pudil

Deeney
Vydra

Lets not get too excited as we're still 6th after all. Must win I believe.

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Eastsussexhornet says...
9:36am Fri 25 Jan 13

Wimbledonhorn wrote:
Long balls to their new signing Henderson. However their centre halves are very slow. Probably need Hogg or Eustace in the middle of the park as Mcleish's teams are generally physical.

Expecting 4 points from the next 2 games.....
Agreed.

Also, with respect to Stevyweavy's comments, we have to get 30 points from 19 games to get into the playoffs (76 points should do it as everyone seems to be drawing this season apart from us). That's 9 wins, 3 draws and 7 losses. Easy.

To get automatic promotion, 85 points should be enough so another 39 points needed - 12 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses. Quite possible.

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mkhornet says...
10:07am Fri 25 Jan 13

To quote the late Michael Winner "Calm down dear". So far so good but there's a long way to go, let's not get too carried away.

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Harry's Bar says...
10:13am Fri 25 Jan 13

aussihornet wrote:
No doubt, if Hall is 100% fit, he MUST come straight into the first 11. Really important game, no rotation here please Zola. Almunia Nosworthy Hall Ekstrand Cassetti Chalobah Abdi Battochio/Eustace Pudil Deeney Vydra Lets not get too excited as we're still 6th after all. Must win I believe.
Playing Hall would be rotation as he is in and out due to injury so much. Personally I think Zola will stick with Doyley, Nos & Ekstrand with Hall on bench.
Hogg no longer a shoe in? He's fit again apparently.

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ORBY says...
10:19am Fri 25 Jan 13

Let's not get too excited,at the moment we have been under the radar just staying in 6th position, but I agree with 1881, we are now being talked about and are there to be shot at. Forest are one of those teams that can raise their game and with Henderson signing for them he will be a handfull along with Blackstock, although he is not the player he was for us a few seasons ago I would be happy with a draw and a win on Tuesday.

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WessexLad says...
10:21am Fri 25 Jan 13

If Watford score first, game over.

Forest, and I would still fancy Watford to get a draw.

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JohnnyHornet says...
10:53am Fri 25 Jan 13

The next 2 games will certainly be the catalyst for the season, onwards and upwards, COYGB, we need all the points so the Cardiff game decides that we will be champions.

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londomollari says...
11:17am Fri 25 Jan 13

Watford have coped with Doris reasonably well in recent times---I would like to see Fitz up against him.
With a recent new manager, new player---plus Forest can raise their game.
As said above, if Watford score first, will probably win, draw at worst. If Forest score first, I still don't see Watford losing.

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londomollari says...
11:30am Fri 25 Jan 13

Lots of snow due overnight, I hear---possibly six inches. Hope Forest can cope with it.

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aussihornet says...
12:19pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Harry's Bar wrote:
aussihornet wrote:
No doubt, if Hall is 100% fit, he MUST come straight into the first 11. Really important game, no rotation here please Zola. Almunia Nosworthy Hall Ekstrand Cassetti Chalobah Abdi Battochio/Eustace Pudil Deeney Vydra Lets not get too excited as we're still 6th after all. Must win I believe.
Playing Hall would be rotation as he is in and out due to injury so much. Personally I think Zola will stick with Doyley, Nos & Ekstrand with Hall on bench.
Hogg no longer a shoe in? He's fit again apparently.
Kinda true mate, but Nos is on top form (ATM) but Hall has been cracking when he has been in first 11, if he's fit must be at the back!

Think this is a pretty crutial game to decide if we're aiming for top six or top 2.

Hope we're not disappointed.

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D.unstable says...
12:25pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Teams are starting to have the fear factor when playing us, which always helps top teams get promoted.

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Harry's Bar says...
12:47pm Fri 25 Jan 13

aussihornet wrote:
Harry's Bar wrote:
aussihornet wrote: No doubt, if Hall is 100% fit, he MUST come straight into the first 11. Really important game, no rotation here please Zola. Almunia Nosworthy Hall Ekstrand Cassetti Chalobah Abdi Battochio/Eustace Pudil Deeney Vydra Lets not get too excited as we're still 6th after all. Must win I believe.
Playing Hall would be rotation as he is in and out due to injury so much. Personally I think Zola will stick with Doyley, Nos & Ekstrand with Hall on bench. Hogg no longer a shoe in? He's fit again apparently.
Kinda true mate, but Nos is on top form (ATM) but Hall has been cracking when he has been in first 11, if he's fit must be at the back! Think this is a pretty crutial game to decide if we're aiming for top six or top 2. Hope we're not disappointed.
Can't disagree with playing the best 11 and Hall is certainly one of the best three centre backs. Can he stay fit though, that will be Zola's concern.

This game is crucial if we are looking to catch Cardiff, which I think we can do. I would pay the entrance money just to see the look on the sweaty sock's face when we beat them at the Vic.

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