The Championship is set for a fantastic end-of-the-season sprint to the finish line. Nine points currently separate third-place Middlesbrough and 10th-place West Ham.
On Monday night, West Brom will travel to Vicarage Road to face Watford in a massive Championship promotion playoff six-pointer. While the Baggies are nine points off third-place Middlesbrough, they are just two points off sixth-place Watford.
A win for West Brom and results going their way elsewhere could see them move into the top six. However, a win for Watford would see the Hornets strengthen their grip on a place in the top six.
The reverse fixture between these clubs, played in August with both clubs under different managers, finished 1-1. Ismaila Sarr’s 12th-minute goal for Watford was cancelled by West Brom’s Karlan Grant on the stroke of halftime. No further goals occurred in the second half, as the game finished 1-1.
West Brom go into Monday’s game after taking 10 points from the last six games in the Championship. However, Carlos Corberan’s team is winless in back-to-back matches in the league. West Brom scored just seven times in the last six matches.
Watford took seven points from their last six matches in the competitions. The Hornets are out of form going into the match, as each of their last five games ended without a win. However, Slaven Bilic’s team drew their last three Championship matches.
Bilic has a long list of injured players at Vicarage Road. Defenders Craig Cathcart, Francisco Sierralta, and Joao Ferreira are all ruled out of the game. Defender Kortney Hause could be passed fit to play following a knee injury.
Midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru is ruled out with a ligament injury. Edo Kayembe could return to the team following a calf problem. Midfielder Dan Gosling is in line to return following an Achilles problem.
Corberan has fewer injury worries going into the game on Monday night. Goalkeeper Alex Palmer is out with a knee injury, and forward Matt Phillips appears to be done for the season after suffering a muscle injury. Defender Kyle Bartley has a foot problem and is a major doubt.
Watford have drawn three straight games ahead of their crunch fixture with West Brom. The teams drew 1-1 earlier this season and should once again finish in a stalemate. With both teams desperate to win the match, they should cancel each other out with the game ending 1-1.
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