Watford

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Watford head coach Tom Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio his side must improve their away form if they are to challenge for promotion.

The Hornets fell to a seventh away defeat of the season at Burnley - in stark contrast to their unbeaten home record.

"I think the scoreline flatters us - I've told that to the players. That could have been a lot more convincing (for Burnley) and was nowhere near an acceptable performance from us today.

"They showed more personality to play on the ball, they showed better problem-solving but, most worryingly, they ran more and tackled harder.

"In fairness to the players they always have responded well to a performance like that, but if we're serious about our ambitions this season we have to have a better mindset in these away games where you are going to suffer setbacks.

"At home we've suffered setbacks and responded to them, but away from home we just don't show the same character or mindset to come back from any deficits.

"I would never criticise my players for a technical mistake but when I see players shying away from wanting to receive the ball, then we've got a real issue.

"To get to the level we want to get to we can't just do it in the home games - we have to do it in the toughest environments.

"At the minute we're playing like a team who want to flip a coin and finish between fifth and 10th rather than really grab our own destiny by the scruff of the neck."

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Watford beat West Bromwich Albion last time out to end the Baggies' 12-match unbeaten streak and are hoping to do the same to third-placed Burnley on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Clarets have not lost in eight Championship matches, however Watford have proven themselves adept at getting the better of those above them.

The Hornets, in seventh spot, have won each of their games against the three teams immediately above them in the Championship table - Middlesbrough, Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland.

"These are the big challenges, the big days that we've been rising to. Our form against the top-10 teams is quite good," Watford boss Tom Cleverley told BBC Radio Three Counties.

"This another huge challenge for us and one we feel like we are arriving there at a good moment."

Watford are on a six-match unbeaten run [W3 D3] and are level on points with Boro, who are in the final play-off spot.

However, as confident as Cleverley is feeling, he isn't underestimating Scott Parker's promotion challengers.

"It's an incredible defensive record they've got up to this stage of the season," he said.

"Only eight goals conceded in 21 matches - it goes back to the [Jose] Mourinho Chelsea team's kind of defensive record.

"We know the test we face but what I would say is that we have got one of the most exciting attacking units in the league also, so I expect a good clash of styles and a good football match."

Burnley are looking to extend their unbeaten run to nine games as they host seventh-placed Watford on Saturday.

The Clarets are third, four points behind leaders Sheffield United, and host a Hornets side who have taken just five points from their past nine away games, in stark contrast to their home record of 26 points from 10 matches.

• Burnley have lost just one of their past seven league games against Watford (W3 D3), never conceding more than one goal in any of those matches.

• Watford have won just three of their 23 away Football League games against Burnley (D7 L13), though all three wins have seen the Hornets score 3+ goals. In that time, Watford have managed to only keep two clean sheets.

• Burnley are unbeaten across their past 10 home league games (W5 D5), drawing each of their last two against Middlesbrough and Derby County. Not since August 2022 have the Clarets drawn three in succession at Turf Moor.

• Watford are unbeaten across their last six league games (W3 D3), last enjoying a longer run between March and April 2021 (eight games).

• Giorgi Chakvetadze has created more chances from open play than any other player in the Championship this season (40), while the Watford midfielder is second this term for dribbles completed (41).

There's a big battle in the race for the top-six on Sunday afternoon as West Bromwich Albion visit Vicarage Road to face Watford.

The Baggies climbed above the Hornets on Wednesday night courtesy of their 2-0 win over Coventry, which made it 12 games unbeaten, albeit 10 of those being draws.

Watford salvaged a point at bottom side Hull but remain unbeaten at home with 23 points from nine games, and just four goals conceded.

• Watford are unbeaten in their past seven league games against West Brom (W3 D4), with both matches between the pair last season ending in 2-2 draws.

• West Brom have not won any of their past six away league games against Watford (D3 L3), having won on each of their prior three trips between September 2001 and November 2007.

• Watford are unbeaten in their past 13 league games at Vicarage Road (W8 D5), keeping a clean sheet in eight of those games, including all the past four.

• West Brom have lost fewer Championship away games than any other side this season (W4 D5 L1), with five of their past six such games ending in a draw (W1), as many as in their previous 23 (W9 L9).

• Tom Fellows has assisted six away Championship goals for West Bromwich Albion this season, with those six assists coming for just two players – four for Josh Maja and two for Karlan Grant.

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Watford boss Tom Cleverley believes Hull City's players will have extra motivation when the two clubs meet in the Championship on Wednesday night.

City will have new head coach Ruben Selles in charge for the first time after he replaced Tim Walter last week.

"I believe in the new manager bounce - it's something which happens in football and in life I suppose when you're trying to impress somebody new, it can certainly get an extra 10% out of the players," Cleverley told his pre-match press conference.

"When I got the job here our results got better and that's not patting me on the back - it's a thing in football and it's our job to put a lid on that on Wednesday evening."

Watford's match at Cardiff City was postponed on Saturday because of Storm Darragh and Cleverley is keen they take advantage of the extra break as they prepare to face a team who may have a different approach under their new head coach.

"We've had three days to prepare, so it's been a little bit strange but we have to look like the team who are fresher and it's been a little bit of respite from the playing side of things.

"You go over things from his [Selles] previous club - we played Reading in pre-season with Ruben as their manager and I was impressed with his team and he's a coach I have massive respect for."

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Results across the weekend saw Hull City drop to the foot of the Championship table and new boss Ruben Selles will be on the touchline for the first time on Wednesday night.

The Tigers have failed to win any of their past six home games and are on a six match losing streak in the league.

If Watford's away form came anywhere near their home results they would be a lot closer to the automatic promotion spots let alone the top six.

The Hornets' return of seven points from their nine away games is the lowest in the top 15 of the Championship.

• Hull City have lost just three of their past 13 league games against Watford (W6 D4), keeping a clean sheet in four of their past five such matches.

• Watford have won two of their past four away league games against Hull City (L2), as many victories as across their prior 17 such fixtures combined beforehand (D6 L9).

• Hull have failed to win any of their past five home league games played in midweek (D3 L2 – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), their longest such run between August 2017 and November 2018 (nine matches).

• Watford have won just one of their past 10 league games played in midweek (D3 L6 – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), though that sole victory did come during their past such match against Bristol City last month (1-0).

• Watford won their past away league game against a side from Yorkshire 6-2 against Sheffield Wednesday last month, scoring as many goals in that match as across their prior 10 such matches combined beforehand.

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Omer Riza's 'permanent' reign as Cardiff boss begins here, with the Bluebirds now on a five-match winless streak and casting nervous glances at the relegation zone just two points below them.

Riza, whose appointment until the end of the season was confirmed on Thursday, guided Cardiff to four wins from six games after taking temporary charge in the wake of Erol Bulut's dismissal - and they need to regain that kind of form to avoid sinking into the bottom three.

Opponents Watford have climbed to sixth place with a run of four wins from seven games - but their only defeat during that sequence was sustained in South Wales, a 1-0 reverse to Swansea last month.

● Cardiff City are unbeaten across their last three league games against Watford (W2 D1), their longest such streak since a run of six matches between 2011 and 2014.

● Watford are unbeaten across their last five away league games against Cardiff City (W4 D1), since a 2-1 defeat in October 2012. Overall, each of the Hornets' last 12 such matches since August 2005 have seen both sides score.

● Cardiff have lost more home Championship games in 2024 than any other side (10), losing six of their last 10 such games (W4), including each of the previous two.

● Watford are unbeaten in their last four league games (W2 D2) and could record three successive clean sheets in the league for the first time since August 2023.

● Only Portsmouth (9) have conceded more goals from outside the box in the Championship this season than Cardiff (6), while only Rubin Colwill (9) has recorded more shots on target from outside the box in the competition this term than Watford's Giorgi Chakvetadze (8).

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Watford manager Tom Cleverley has praised former Hornets boss Marco Silva for helping him perform as a player and guiding his style in the dugout.

"He is one who has had real influence on the way I coach," Cleverley told BBC 3CR.

"As a player, I felt [he] was completely clear on the job he wanted from me."

Silva, who is now at Fulham, managed Watford in the Premier League during the 2017-18 season.

"Sir Alex [Ferguson] is a manager I have had, but Marco is the best coach I ever played under, and [I have] a lot of respect for him," said the former Manchester United midfielder.

"He didn't overcomplicate football. Every decision he made, made complete sense."

Silva was just 40 years old when he took charge of Watford, but Cleverley, at 35, is starting to make a name for himself in his first full season in charge, with his side unbeaten in 15 home matches and sitting sixth in the Championship table.

Cleverley also played under Cardiff City manager Omar Riza, who he will face on Saturday.

"He is someone I respect. Returning from injury in two under-21s games, I played under Omar," he revealed.

"[He is] not afraid to have fresh ideas. We have to be ready to adapt on the day."

Commentary of Cardiff v Watford on 103.8FM Saturday at 15:00 GMT.

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Watford have signed young striker Nickson Okosun from Irish side Bohemians for an undisclosed fee.

The 18-year-old has agreed a deal until 2029 and will become part of the Hornets' under-21 squad.

Okosun has been given permission to begin training with Watford until the transfer is officially completed on 1 January 2025.

He made seven appearances for Bohemians and has represented the Republic of Ireland at U16, U17 and U19 level.

“I’m happy to be here and I can’t wait to get going,” Okosun told the club website, external.

“I like to link up and get in behind and I love scoring goals as well. It’s a big club and there are good people, and Watford really resonated with me in that sense.

“Hopefully, I’ll hit the ground running and I’ll try and impress people here.”

Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

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We are going to know more about Watford‘s promotion credentials in the next couple of weeks.

The Hornets have successive away games at Swansea and Hull coming up and if they can produce results there, they are in a decent position in the lead-up to the busy Christmas and New Year period.

Watford‘s home form this season has been sensational. Tom Cleverley's side have the second best record in the Championship, bettered only by Sheffield United, and they remain unbeaten with seven wins out of nine.

That’s the reason they sit sixth in the table but to remain in the promotion picture, the away form still needs improving.

It has got better in recent games at Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds and it’s that type of form required rather than some of the stuff Watford produced on their travels earlier in the season.

The club's promotion ambition will be evident in the January transfer window.

Watford need another striker and probably a midfielder, but their biggest victory will be keeping hold of star midfielder Giorgi Chakvetadze.

He’s top of the charts in terms of creating chances in open play, progressions and carries and Watford must keep him if they are to mount a serious challenge for promotion back to the top flight.

Automatic promotion looks out of their reach but the play-offs are certainly not.

Commentary of Cardiff v Watford on 103.8FM Saturday at 15:00 GMT.

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It is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar as Premier League and Championship clubs join the FA Cup action from round three.

The draw will take place on Monday, 2 December from 19:00 GMT and can be watched live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.