Watford

Roy Hodgson sticks with the same side that brought him his first win as Watford boss last time out against Aston Villa as the Hornets look to climb closer towards a position of safety.

Watford XI: Foster, Femenia, Cathcart, Samir, Kamara, Sissoko, Cleverley, Louza, Sarr, King, Dennis.

Image source, BBC Sport

Crystal Palace make four changes to the side beaten in the 89th minute by Chelsea last time out, with Jack Butland replacing Vicente Guaita in goal, Conor Gallagher and Will Hughes returning in midfield and Jean-Philippe Mateta coming in up top.

James McArthur, Jeffrey Schlupp and Jordan Ayew all drop to the bench for Patrick Vieira's side.

Crystal Palace XI: Butland, Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Hughes, Gallagher, Kouyate, Zaha, Olise, Mateta.

Image source, BBC Sport

Watford got a huge win over Aston Villa at the weekend, and their first win in any competition since 20 November was just the lift their manager Roy Hodgson needed before goes up against his old team.

It might be a good time for them to play Crystal Palace, too. The Eagles are on their worst run of the season results-wise, and they haven’t won any of their past six league games.

I’m sure Roy will have targeted this as a chance of three points and their fans will probably expect a win, but after their victory at Villa even a draw here would keep the Hornets in touch with the teams just above them in the relegation battle. They just need to keep chipping away.

Lawro's prediction: Watford 1-1 Crystal Palace

Watford will assess Juraj Kucka and Joao Pedro, who were both ruled out of last Saturday's win at Aston Villa.

Samir, who was substituted during that game because of a head injury, is available and Peter Etebo could return.

Conor Gallagher is available again for Crystal Palace, having been ineligible to face his parent club Chelsea.

Goalkeeper Vicente Guaita was unable to continue after half-time in that fixture because of a knee problem, making him a doubt for Wednesday.

Who makes your Hornets XI?

Pick and share your Eagles XI

• Watford have won four of their past six meetings with Crystal Palace in all competitions (D1 L1), as many as they had in their previous 20 against them. They’ve already won a home match against the Eagles this season, winning 1-0 in the League Cup second round.

• After winning their first Premier League away game against Watford 1-0 in September 2015, Crystal Palace have failed to win any of their past four visits to Vicarage Road in the competition (D3 L1).

• None of the seven victories in Premier League games between Crystal Palace and Watford have been by more than a one-goal margin – it’s the most victories a Premier League fixture has seen without any of them being by more than one goal.

• Watford have conceded at least once in each of their past 17 Premier League home games – no team has ever failed to keep a clean sheet in 18 consecutive home matches in the competition. The last top-flight side to do so were Blackpool, who went 20 top-flight home games without a shutout between April 1971 and April 2011 (17 in the Premier League).

When it comes to this week's Champions League and Premier League action, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra have you covered:

Tuesday, 22 February

• Chelsea v Lille (20:00) - 5 Live

Wednesday, 23 February

• Liverpool v Leeds (19:45) - Sports Extra

• Watford v Crystal Palace (19:45) - BBC Sport website

• Atletico Madrid v Manchester United (20:00) - 5 Live

Friday, 25 February

• Southampton v Norwich (20:00) - 5 Live

Saturday, 26 February

• Manchester United v Watford (15:00) - 5 Live

Sunday, 27 February

• West Ham v Wolves (14:00) - 5 Live

• Chelsea v Liverpool (16:30) - 5 Live

All times GMT

Image source, Getty Images

Emmanuel Dennis and Ismaila Sarr combined for the goal that earned Watford their first win since November on Saturday - but Roy Hodgson has stressed how important Joshua King also is to his attack.

The Hornets had failed to score in four matches before their win at Aston Villa, including Hodgson's first three games in charge.

"I think we have got three here to be fair, that are all capable of putting that cloak on their shoulders," said the Hornets boss as he prepares his side to host Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

"I wouldn't necessarily, having worked with the players for such a short time, pick one of the three out.

"We do know that the players we used up front against Aston Villa are talented and have weapons at their disposal - different weapons but they do have weapons at their disposal."

Sonny Cohen, BBC Sport

Watford boss Roy Hodgson has been speaking to the media before the Hornets host Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Here are the key lines:

• Hodgson is sure Watford's win over Aston Villa - their first victory since November - will help his side gain confidence: "The players were delighted to get that win, especially after playing well. It has got to have been good for the confidence."

• However, he warned against complacency, with his side still in the relegation zone and the games coming thick and fast: "You don't ever get more than a day to savour a victory. The fact you have won a game doesn't make the next game easier."

• Watford had been on a goal drought before Saturday, failing to score in four straight matches, but Hodgson doesn't believe his side are inferior to their relegation rivals in terms of ability: "We have to compare ourselves with the teams around us. To be frank, I don't know that we are far behind them."

• Hodgson managed Palace for four years, but he insisted "there is never any sentiment" when facing a former side. However, he did say it will be "strange lining up on the other side wishing them harm".

Watford will continue their battle for Premier League survival when they host Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

The Hornets finally got off the mark under Roy Hodgson thanks to an Emmanuel Dennis header against Aston Villa.

After their first victory under the new boss would you keep the same side or mix things up?

It's time to select your Watford XI to face Crystal Palace

Watch all the highlights from Saturday's eight matches in the Premier League, including Tottenham's 3-2 victory over reigning champions Manchester City.

Stream on BBC iPlayer now

Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio

Football is like this, isn't it? Halfway through the second half at Villa Park, Watford were bottom of the table with the possibility of being seven points from safety. But just when you can start losing hope on a team they go and win unexpectedly but deservedly and suddenly the gap between relegation and safety is now only four points.

This was a huge win in so many ways. It ended the long run of winless games. They scored for the first time in four and the first time under Roy Hodgson. It will have given them belief that all is not lost. And most importantly it secured them three points. Six more performances like this would probably be enough.

Watford have been much better defensively since Hodgson took over. That happened almost immediately. The next part was to improve in their attacking play.

Finding that balance between defence and attack has proved trickier but against Aston Villa it was much improved.

It definitely helped playing a 4-3-3 system. Hodgson employed this system a lot at Crystal Palace and it seems the way forward for Watford. Having your best player back - Ismaila Sarr - makes a massive difference. Imran Louza was given a rare start and improved the central midfield area in his deep quarter-back position.

Most pleasing, though, was the overall team performance and the attitude shown by the players. Villa did have a lot of the ball but goalkeeper Ben Foster hardly had a save to make, while Watford went close three or four times.

It's a start. Now the Hornets need to follow this result up against Crystal Palace on Wednesday. Another huge game for Watford and especially Hodgson.

Image source, Getty Images

• Aston Villa lost both meetings with Watford in the Premier League this season, just the second time that the Hornets have achieved a league double over them in the competition (also in 2015-16).

• Watford picked up their first Premier League away win since October, while this was their first away win in the competition while also keeping a clean sheet since January 2020 (3-0 v Bournemouth).

• After winning two of their first three Premier League home games under Steven Gerrard (L1), Aston Villa are now winless in their past four league games at Villa Park (D2 L2). This was the first Premier League home game they have failed to score in since May 2021 (v Everton), ending a run of 12 in a row that they had netted in.

• The Hornets have kept as many clean sheets in four Premier League games under Roy Hodgson (2) as they had in their previous 36 games in the competition combined.

• Emmanuel Dennis has been directly involved in 14 goals for Watford in the Premier League this season (nine goals, five assists), the most by a player in a single campaign in the competition for the Hornets since both Gerard Deulofeu (15) and Troy Deeney (14) did so in 2018-19.

Image source, Getty Images

Joe Rindl, BBC Sport

At half-time during Watford’s win over Aston Villa, the Hornets were on course to drop to the bottom of the table and looked set to equal a club record of five consecutive games without a goal.

Instead, the headlines were rewritten as Emmanuel Dennis’ header delivered the visitors their first victory in 12 matches, since beating Manchester United 4-1 in November.

Roy Hodgson, though, was quick to remind his players of the difficulties ahead after full-time.

"The danger now is that we think we've cracked it and that what we needed to do between now and the end of the season has been done," Hodgson told BBC Match of the Day.

"There's such a long way to go."

Watford may have got the points, but Aston Villa were the better side, and should have taken the lead when Danny Ings struck the post in the first half.

It was one of 19 shots off target from the hosts. Watford keeper Ben Foster was forced to make just one save all game.

“We need to have more quality in the final third - that was clear,” said Villa boss Steven Gerrard.

Watford boss Roy Hodgson speaking to BBC MOTD: "It was a very good result for us, it was a very good win.

"We worked hard, and with a 1-0 lead to defend it’s so important for the future that you do defend it. [It's important] The feeling of getting that victory rather than the dagger-in-the-heart of conceding a late goal.

"I must be perfectly honest, I don’t think [Ismaili Sarr and Emmanuel Dennis] were at their scintillating best. But it was nice to see them combine for the goal.

"It’s nice to know we do have that in us. There were a few goal chances today.

"There’s such a long way to go. The danger is now that we think we’ve cracked it just because we’ve come to Villa and won.

"It isn’t [finished], the next two games will be vitally important as well.

"We’re going to need strong performances. People prepared to track back more than they’re used to doing. Put in a tackle they’re not used to doing.

"That’s what we’ve got to do. We’ll need to do it because we need the points. We’re quite divorced from the teams above us."

We're bringing you live text commentary of Aston Villa v Watford, plus Saturday's seven other Premier League games.

Follow all the action here

You'll be able to catch up with all the post-match reaction on this page after full-time.

Image source, BBC Sport

It’s one change for Aston Villa from their 1-0 loss to Newcastle last time out.

Steve Gerrard brings in forward Danny Ings with Ollie Watkins dropping to the bench.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Chambers, Mings, Digne, McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey, Buendia, Ings, Coutinho.

Subs: Olsen, Sanson, Watkins, Young, Hause, Bailey, Chukwuemeka, Chrisene, Iroegbunam.

Image source, BBC Sport

Roy Hodgson makes two changes to the Watford team who were beaten by Brighton last week.

Ismaili Sarr starts for the first time since winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.

Midfielder Imran Louza also comes in with Juraj Kucka out of the squad and Edo Kayembe dropping to the bench.

Watford XI: Foster, Femenia, Cathcart, Samir, Kamara, Sarr, Louza, Sissoko, Cleverley, King, Dennis.

Subs: Bachmann, Ngakia, Ekong, Masina, Sema, Kabasele, Kalu, Hernández, Kayembe.

Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio

Nobody is giving Watford much of a chance in their match at Aston Villa. It's been such a long time since the Hornets won a game that the prospect of coming up against Philippe Coutinho and co isn't installing too much confidence in Watford supporters.

The manager Roy Hodgson says his players and staff need to ignore 'the noise' of those on the outside who doubt them and believe they are down and out. In one sense it takes a little pressure off them if expectation is low.

But in reality the players must find a way of getting out of the losing habit. It's 11 Premier League games without a win now - nine of those defeats. That must be hard to take for the players.

Hodgson is trying to work out which of them have the mental strength to reverse this horrible run. He admitted to me today that he has a better idea but that three games and nearly four weeks working with them isn't quite long enough to properly judge.

His players must find an inner strength to believe they can win games and that they can get out of the relegation zone - and then go and execute that on the pitch.

Hodgson knew this job wasn't going to be easy. And he's probably realising just how difficult it actually is.

Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard has no fresh fitness concerns among his squad but said after the insipid defeat at Newcastle it would be "reasonable to expect" changes to the side.

Ezri Konsa must complete a two-match ban, while Bertrand Traore remains out with a hamstring strain.

Watford manager Roy Hodgson will assess the fitness of two players but wouldn't disclose their names.

There could be a first club start in three months for winger Ismaila Sarr.

Midfielder Peter Etebo, who tore a thigh muscle in September, is back in full training.

Who makes your Villa starting XI?

Does Sarr take a place in your Hornets line-up?

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard says he has "nothing but admiration" for Watford boss Roy Hodgson.

Hodgson has managed Steven Gerrard on two separate occasions - once with Liverpool and once with England, though neither stints were particularly successful.

But, speaking before their sides meet in the Premier League this weekend, Gerrard said: “I know Roy better than most. He’s a joy to work with, he’s a fair man, he’s an honest man.

"He’s very diligent in terms of his organisation and he puts real clarity on how he wants his team to play.

"I really enjoyed my time with him at Liverpool, even though it was short and more so with England. I’ve got nothing but admiration and respect for him.

"If I can have a small percentage of what he’s achieved in the game or the longevity he’s achieved in the game, that will be very satisfying for me.

"He’s someone who I look up to immensely."