Preview: Watford – Town
By Aston
August 31 2007
Town and Watford both have the chance to go top of the Championship tomorrow afternoon if they can get all three points at Vicarage Road.
Town will be without Fabian Wilnis and Danny Haynes who are both suspended. George O'Callaghan has joined Brighton on-loan, Town goalkeeper Neil Alexander may also miss the game because his wife is due to give birth to their second child.
Town manager Jim Magilton: "They certainly have striking options at Watford and their front players carry a threat, they have still got many of the squad that took them up two years ago and have the money to add to that as we have seen with Nathan Ellington joining them.
"The 'parachute' money after coming down from the Premiership will be very handy for them and has helped them pay for Ellington.
"We know all about him. He can be very lively, has real pace and an eye for goal. He carries a threat as do their other front players so we have to be switched on.
"I have been very pleased with the way we have defended this season though. Alex Bruce and Jason De Vos were outstanding against Crystal Palace last week and we will need the same level of performance from them and the team at Watford."
Town squad: Alexander, Bruce, Casement, Clarke, Counago, De Vos, Garvan, Harding, Lee, Legwinski, T Miller, Peters, Roberts, Supple, Sito Castro, Walters, Wright.
Watford are expected to give Nathan Ellington a debut after he completed his transfer from West Brom and new loan signing Santiago Aloi could also feature if all the paperwork is completed in time. The squad that faces Town tomorrow is likely to be much changed from that which was defeated in Carling Cup by Southend earlier this week.
Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd: "Ipswich will be up for it and have a point to prove, they will want to put things right from that FA Cup game last year. They passed it around well that day, were penetrative and I'll always remember the game for two things. Damien's goal right at the death and that nice dance routine the two players did in front of their fans while we were counter-attacking at the other end.
"They will want to put that right but at the same time we will want to put right what happened on Saturday.
"It should make for a really good fixture. It's the perfect game for us."
Officials:
Referee: MJ Jones
Assistants: D Buck and G S Hambling
Fourth Official: M D Rowley
Match Odds:
Watford: 10/11
Draw: 11/5
Ipswich: 11/4
Selected First goalscorer odds:
Marlon King: 4/1
Ellington: 11/2
Lee: 9/1
Counago: 10/1
Walters: 12/1