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Watford vs Southampton

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Struggling Saints travel to Hertfordshire to face a Watford side who have edged away from the relegation zone of late.

Southampton have had an eventful week, with the parent company entering administration. Despite 27,288 fans showing their support, the club’s biggest attendance of the season, the Saints were beaten 3-2 by bottom placed league Charlton at St Mary’s on Saturday.

This means that tomorrow night’s game is a must win for the Saints, if they are to stay in the second tier of English football.

Vital Quotes: Wotton on Watford

“We have to win tomorrow night, it’s as simple as that.

“It’s not over yet – Norwich and Forest didn’t have great results either but we’re bitterly disappointed because we feel that we should have got more out of the last three home games.

“It’s too early to say who will be relegated because every team involved in it becomes edgy, so the more teams that are in it, the better it is for us.

“We can make a big statement tomorrow night and make sure that it is certainly more than two from three.”

Watford Team News:

Watford have some injury worries, with Tamas Priskin (ankle) and Don Cowie (thigh) both coming off in the 2-1 win at Doncaster on Saturday.

Danny Rose should be fit to play, despite being substituted in Watford’s last outing with concussion.

On-loan Southampton striker Grzegorz Rasiak is not eligible to face his parent club, but he is currently sidelined with a thigh injury anyway.

Player to watch: Tommy Smith

Tommy Smith is a fans favourite at Vicarage Road and you can guarantee that he will give his all for Watford.

The lively forward has scored an impressive 14 goals this season, and he will no doubt be looking for his 15th tomorrow night.

Southampton Team News:

Southampton have no new injury worries, with Mark Wotte likely to field a similar side to the one that lost 3-2 to Charlton on Saturday.

Lloyd James returns from suspension and is likely to replace Jake Thomson at right-back.

Bradley Wright-Phillips is also pushing for a start after coming off the bench to score during Saturday’s defeat.

Defensive midfielder Simon Gillett is out for the season, but Wotte has the option of playing Morgan Schneiderlin, who didn’t play on Saturday after suffering with flu during the international break.

Player to watch: Andrew Surman

The former England Under-21 international has been quiet in the past few weeks and is due a good performance.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Surman scored and had a good game tomorrow night.

Match Facts & Stats

Watford left the south coast with the three points earlier this season, with an emphatic 3-0 victory over the Saints.

Bizarrely, the hosts missed two penalties and dominated proceedings, but still managed to be on the wrong end of a 3-0 hammering.

Saints will be looking for revenge tomorrow night, with three points a must if they are to keep their survival chances alive.

Match Prediction:

Watford 1 – 2 Southampton

Next Fixtures:

Wolves (A) Good Friday (On Sky)

Crystal Palace (H) Monday 13th April

Sheffield Wednesday (A) Saturday 18th April

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