The first corner yields a second, but Brentford can't make either set piece count in terms of a shot on goal - or better.

Ooof! The first shot of the match - and it's a beauty.

Watford don't clear their lines and the ball drops to Shandon Baptiste, who chests it down in the area and sharply volleys goalwards.

Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann has to acrobatically top over his bar.

Karen Carney
Former Chelsea midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's a big game for both teams. Performances can go out of the window as they just need three points to get up the table and away from that relegation zone.

A shank from Brentford left-back Rico Henry isn't the ideal start. But, no major problem. Brentford enjoying the early possession.

Game on!

Watford, in that familiar yellow and black, kick off as Tom Cleverley does the honours.

Both sets of players take the knee as they continue the fight against racism.

Brentford: Fernandez, Goode, Jansson, Janelt, Roerslev, Baptiste, Norgaard, Jensen, Henry, Mbeumo, Wissa. Subs: Thompson, Forss, Ghoddos, Onyeka, Bidstrup, Sorensen, Stevens, Cox, Young-Coombes.

Watford: Bachmann, Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Cathcart, Ngakia, Sissoko, Kucka, Cleverley, Dennis, King, Hernandez. Subs: Rose, Louza, Joao Pedro, Sema, Fletcher, Tufan, Kabasele, Elliot, Angelini.

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Here we go then! The two teams stroll out of the Brentford tunnel just as McCartney - and 17,000 Brentford fans - hits the chorus of Hey Jude.

Talking of listening delight, you can also tune your ears into our 5 Live coverage...

Watford

Watford boss Claudio Ranieri, speaking to Sky Sports: "Brentford are very organised, they play well and press well. It will be a tough match, like all in the Premier League, but if we want to climb table we have to make a point. That is very important for us today.

"We have our philosophy and we try to do our best, but we know we concede some goals. It is important to maintain a clean sheet. We play to win, but without losing the match.

"We have to stay together, defend together, attack together and defend the opponent's transition well. We have to mark them."

On dropping former England left-back Danny Rose: "He is working very well during the training sessions but I want to see the young guy [Jeremy] Ngakia. He is satisfying me in the training sessions and during the 20 minutes he played in the last match."

Brentford

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to Sky Sports, starting off on Ethan Pinnock's absence: "He's got Covid, so that's why. Not sure if we have to get used to it but we're aware it is a factor and can happen at any time.

"Last game it was Ivan [Toney], this time it is Ethan. That's why we have a squad of 25 players, we put a team out which will fight and play."

On Yoane Wissa starting for the first time in the Premier League: "He's a player who we have big belief in, he's a very good player and is getting back up to speed in terms of fitness levels."

On the importance of improving their home form: "That's the plan, to get three points today by attacking, aggressive and the fans playing their part."

Woah! Never mind Infernos - we've gone to Ministry of Sound. BPMs increased, LEDs flashing. Brentford has turned into the Berghain.

While that's all going on, let's have one last listen to what each manager has to say...

** This is your 10-minute warning **

The two sets of players have disappeared down the tunnel, stretches and drills done, snoods and beanies now being removed.

Shortly they will be reappearing and ready to get down to business.

The DJ is still dropping them like he's working at Infernos in Clapham on a Saturday night.

Watford

• Watford have lost six of their eight Premier League fixtures under Claudio Ranieri, while they have conceded a league-high 19 goals since he took charge.
• Their 10 defeats this season is the highest total of any Premier League team.
• Watford could extend their club-record run without a clean sheet to 26 top-flight games. They are the only Premier League side yet to keep one this season.
• They have conceded 50 Premier League goals since their last shut-out in the division.
• The Hornets' biggest away win in the competition came in a Friday match, a 5-1 triumph at Cardiff City in February 2019.
• Ranieri has picked up just seven points in his past 24 Premier League away fixtures as a manager, an average of 0.29 points per game.

Brentford

• Brentford have won just once in eight Premier League games.
• Victory in their last home match, against Everton, was their first at the Brentford Community Stadium since the opening day of the season.
• Brentford are unbeaten in their past eight league games played on a Friday, winning six and drawing two
• The Bees are just the third club to have had their first eight home Premier League goals all scored by different players, emulating Liverpool and Wimbledon in 1992.

Image source, Getty Images

All that Claudio Ranieri wants for Christmas is... a clean sheet.

This is the one thing he needs. Make his wish come true, lads.

"We have to defend better, the whole team, because we are conceding too many goals," says the Watford manager.

"As an Italian manager I don’t like it too much.

"We have to understand why we concede the goal and try our best to not concede them. I think we are ready to achieve a clean sheet and I think from here to Christmas Day, we will get a clean sheet."

Joshua King has been one of the main men for Watford recently and those who have travelled M1-Westway to Brentford tonight will be hoping for some of this...

"No-no, no-no-no-no, no-no-no-no, no-no, there's no limit!"

The Brentford DJ bangs out a bit 2Unlimited for the 30-somethings. Pure junior school disco vibes. All 10p crisps and cartons of bubble gum pop.

Sorry, I was going somewhere with this... what is the limit for Brentford? This season and beyond?

Image source, Getty Images

Thomas Frank is scheming Watford's downfall for the third time inside a year - and each game has presented a different challenge for the Brentford boss.

There has been a different Hornets manager each time, with Claudio Ranieri becoming the latest opponent after Vladimir Ivic and Xisco Muñoz.

"Ranieri is a different coach to Xisco Muñoz, but I think what he has done is make them more attacking," says Frank.

"They have created quite a few chances and have some very good players going forward in Josh King, Emmanuel Dennis, and Ismaïla Sarr, although he is injured.

"It is the same formation, the 4-3-3, that we faced last time.

"They play slightly more direct in early phases, so we have to deal with the longer ball and the ball that drops down there because when it comes up to their offensive third, they are really good at moving the ball.

"They get down the half-spaces with their eights and produce early crosses. We need to defend the box well and stop the crosses down the sides."

Three points would be a lovely boost going into the weekend for each team.

For Brentford, they would leapfrog Villa, Leicester and Everton to go into the top half.

For Watford, a win might not even mean they move from 17th. But it would give them a healthy six-point cushion over the current bottom three of Burnley, Newcastle and Norwich.

Not managed to get to the new Brentford ground yet. What's the vibe? Most importantly, does it have a pub on every corner a la Griffin Park?

Image source, Getty Images

Pantomime season has started in Brentford. Oh, yes it has!

Few boos from those home fans already in their seats as the Watford players saunter out for their warm-up.