Troy Deeney has five goals in six matches against Boro and he has a half-chance when he gets on the end of a cross only to head over under pressure from the visiting defence.

Steve Claridge
BBC Sport at Vicarage Road

"This is all about the result for Watford and Middlesbrough. It's not about the performance. There's an impressive travelling support from Middlesbrough. It's on telly and it's an early kick-off. There's a big banner in their end that reads 'We Believe'. They obviously do."

Alastair Yeomans is at Rotherham early for BBC Radio 5 live: "It looks more like an early season game with the sun beating down on the New York Stadium.

"The relaxed atmosphere belies the tension which will surely grip this neat, new ground in a couple of hours time."

Middlesbrough have had a couple of corners but nothing has materialised, while Hornets striker Odion Ighalo was quickly tackled as he tried to sprint away from the visitors' defence.

Middlesbrough have made a bright start but the two teams are just sparring at the moment.

Image source, PA

The sun is out and it's a glorious scene at Vicarage Road today as the match gets under way.

Who do you think will finish in the top two in the Championship and why?

Max Baggins-Craig: Middlesbrough (deserved after years of PL absence) Bournemouth (their achievement for going from League Two to Championship).

Brian Mason: Bournemouth and Brentford. Much easier run-ins on paper.

Oliver Ward: Middlesbrough and Norwich. Boro know how to grind out results and Norwich have momentum.

Let us know via text 81111 (UK users only), #bbcfootball or post on BBC Sport Facebook.

• The earlier meeting this season ended as a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium in October.

• Watford have lost only one of their last eight games.

• Middlesbrough have won only one of their last six away games in all competitions.

BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, @juliette_grace

BBC Sport's Juliette Ferrington:, external Working with these two loveable rogues this afternoon. Full commentary 3pm @LaticsOfficial v @dcfcofficial on @bbc5live.

Former Wigan winger Kevin Kilbane is alongside Conor McNamara in the commentary box at the DW Stadium.

Image source, Getty Images

Watford manager Slavisa Jokanovic: "It's a massive game and we must be ready to concentrate 100%.

"Middlesbrough have good defensive players. During the game we can change something if we need to. We have planned for today's game and we're going to try in this way to find a way.

"It's an important game but it's not the last game. We are at a similar level to the top teams. We have a good chance but we must concentrate to find the victory."

Image source, Empics

Middlesbrough beat Wigan on Good Friday to go top and it appears not losing at Vicarage Road is the order of the day for Boro boss Aitor Karanka.

"This game is very important," he told the club's official website. "You don't want to lose because if you don't it's three points they don't have which is just as important now.

"Our performances weren't good over a period because we had a lot of games and no time to prepare. Now we are fresh.

"We've had two good weeks which were important and now we will go to Watford feeling good."

Watford make three changes following their 2-2 draw with Derby on Friday. Juan Carlos Paredes, Daniel Tozser and Ikechi Anya replace Marco Motta, Miguel Layun and Matej Vydra. Almen Abdi is named on the bench after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Middlesbrough also make three changes after their victory over Wigan on Friday. Loan signings Dwight Tiendalli and Fernando Amorebieta come in for their debuts in place of Ben Gibson and Tomas Kalas, while Lee Tomlin replaces Jelle Vossen.

Watford XI: Gomes, Cathcart, Angella, Hoban, Paredes, Tozser, Watson, Guedioura, Anya, Deeney, Ighalo

Middlesbrough XI: Konstantopoulos, Tiendalli, Amorebieta, Woodgate, Friend, Leadbitter, Clayton, Adomah, Tomlin, Reach, Bamford.

BBC Radio 5 live

BBC Radio 5 live has started its Championship coverage and will have live commentary of Watford v Middlesbrough from 12:30 BST.

You can also listen live to Wigan playing Derby from 15:00 BST and Wolves v Leeds, which kicks off at 17:15 BST.

We are nothing without you so we want to know who you think will finish in the top two in the Championship and why?

Let us know via text 81111 (UK users only), #bbcfootball or post on BBC Sport Facebook.

There's no messing about today as the 12:30 KO pits Championship leaders Middlesbrough against fourth-placed Watford. Boro could go five points clear of the Hornets with a win but be leapfrogged by Watford if they lose.

Second-placed Bournemouth and Norwich, in third, could also end the day top as they play Birmingham and Sheffield Wednesday respectively among the 15:00 BST kick-offs. That, my friends, is how close it is.

Promotion hopefuls Brentford, who host Nottingham Forest, Ipswich, who go to Huddersfield Town, and Derby, who are at relegation battling Wigan, also start at three along with Cardiff v Bolton and Rotherham v Brighton.

As if that's not enough, we finish the day with eighth-placed Wolves against mid-table Leeds.

I hope you are all having a lovely Easter and we start with a quick recap of the state of affairs in the Champo.

The top eight are separated by just seven points. There are two points between the top four, while one point separates those between fifth and eighth.

Automatic promotion places and play-off berths are still all up for grabs as the chase for the Premier League pot of gold at the end of the Championship rainbow hots up proper style.

Image source, .

Premier League, schemier league. La Liga, schma liga. Bundesliga, schmundesliga. Serie A, Smelly A.

No, I'm not drunk. Not at this time of the day anyway. Instead, the point I'm trying to make is that you can take all the major leagues across Europe but none, and I mean none, are delivering the closeness, drama and excitement of the Championship.

We've had more leaders in English football's second tier than in an actual leaders' debate!!

Today, is the latest instalment in this blockbuster so get ready for: Fast and Furious - the Championship race.