Watford Preview: Saturday 15th October 2011 (League)

This week, I would like to welcome a friend of mine to the site. Ben Button (@Benny_Button) will be taking a look at Vicarage Road and giving us his insight and knowledge of travel and local pub info, in his first 'Away Day Guide'.

The Don's "Away Day Guide"

Watford F.C, also known as The Hornets or "Golden Boys" were founded in 1898, currently play at Vicarage Road stadium opened in 1922 (yes there are stadiums older than Selhurst). The current capacity is 19,920 (away 2,200) and comprised of three stands at the moment, with the east stand currently awaiting redevelopment, the Rous and Rookery stands are for home fans, whilst half the Vicarage Road stand is for travelling supporters.

Atmosphere: On Palace's most recent trip to Watford the atmosphere was non-existent from the home crowd, despite Scott Loach's best efforts to encourage the home side of the Vicarage Road Stand. The atmosphere from Palace fans last time out was one of the best I've experienced and VR is usually a good ground for a song as everyone is packed into a small area.

Weather Watch: After the unexpected fog of Palace's last visit, looking forward to Saturday's trip, the weather experts predict a mild day of around 15 degrees Celsius, so a t-shirt should be fine, but bring a jacket due to wind conditions. No fog is expected!

Travel by train: Watford Junction is just over a mile from the ground; a direct train can be taken from East Croydon at ten minutes past the hour, the journey should be just over an hour. A train can then be taken to Watford High Street, which is slightly closer to the ground, but it is just a fifteen minute walk from Watford Junction to the ground anyway.

From Watford Junction, leave the station and take Clarendon Road, which is directly opposite, all the way (straight over Ring Road at the lights) up to the high street. Turn left and go past Wetherspoons "Moon Under the Water" on your right and then take the first right into Market Street. Continue along again, crossing Ring Road to T Junction and then left at the chip shop. Vicarage Road is the next right turn. This journey should take no longer than 15-20 minutes.

From Watford High Street, turn left out of the station, left along main road, passing 'Watford Springs'. Keep on the footpath and go straight on at the crossroads. Past the school on the left and turn left into a wide alleyway just before the first detached house. Turn right into Wiggenhall Road, left into Farraline Road and left again into Vicarage Road.

Travel by Car: Don't bother, there is limited parking in and around the town centre.

By bus:  Numbers 7, 10 and 11 run from Market Street in the town centre to Vicarage Road.

Pub Watch: (admit it you're only reading this for the pub info)

In the main high street in Watford, there is a few friendly away pubs, mainly the ever popular Wetherspoons "Moon Under the Water", there is also the Rose and Crown, O'Neils and Walkabout. In Fearnley street is OddFellows', in Stamford Road is the Nascot Arms. Outside the station is the Flag and Firkin. Though accommodating of away supporters, it may be wise to hide colours, just in case.
Ground services: The Vicarage Road stand offers a Ladbrokes betting outlet and food & drink kiosks, unfortunately the away end does not supply alcohol, but the food prices are as follows:


Pies: £2.70 - Pasties: £2.30 - Sausage Rolls: £1.70 - Pizza Pods: £2.30 - Hot Dogs: £3.00

Team News:


Crystal Palace midfielders Owen Garvan (knee) & Kagisho "KG" Dikcagoi (hamstring) have returned to training this week and one, if not both, are expected to make the trip to Vicarage Road on Saturday. Lee Hills (knee) is still expected to be out for a number of months due to the severity of his injury but he has began light-medium training. Steffen Iversen and Antonia Pedroza both featured in the reserves game on Tuesday, Pedroza assisting the first goal.


Watford will be without several players. Stephen McGinn is still out due to a knee ligament injury sustained in their meet with Doncaster in February but has started light running. Lee Hodson and Piero Mongoia are also out with knee problems but both are minor cases. But in good news for the Hornets, Britt Assombalonga is back in full training after his ankle ligament injury. Watford have signed Wolves winger Michael Kightly on a one month loan deal, the ex-England U-21's has made only five appearances for Wolves since returning from a long term injury.


Preview:
After a busy two weeks off, Crystal Palace travel to Vicarage Road to face a struggling Watford. Watford have won just two games all season; one at home, one away. Having had such a good start to the season, Palace will feel confident going into this game as they secured four out of six points against The Hornets last season, with Owen Garvan slotting home two fine goals when the two sides met at Selhurst Park.
Last time out at Vicarage Road, loanee James Vaughan saved a point for The Eagles in the last five minutes of the first half when he put away a crucial equalizer. The Hornets went ahead after just ten minutes with their loanee Andy Weimann.

Now, with an almost brand new squad (in mind as well as personnel) at his disposal, Dougie Freedman will feel extremely confident in gaining the club's third away win of the season. Dougie now has Owen Garvan and Kagisho Dikcagoi both back in the squad and this entitles him to a full strength squad (bar Lee Hills) to choose from. However, the Scot will need to think long and hard about who he chooses, because there is so much competition in the midfield and attack that it will be tough to call.

With Ambrose, Garvan, Jedinak, Dorman, Marrow, KG, Zaha, Cadogan and Williams fighting for a midfield spot, as well as flexible players Parr and Wright hoping to get a look in, he will need to select his center players very carefully.

Dougie's squad selection will be crucial in gaining all three points
when the Eagles travel to Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Also, with Scannell, Murray, Easter, Iversen, Andrew, Pinney and Pedroza all looking to head the Eagles' attack, Dougie (right) must have a horrible headache.

Ex-Hornets defender Sean Dyche, who was appointed manager in June of this year, has a few injuries limiting his selection but no suspensions, despite the team tallying up a total of thirteen yellow cards since the start of the season and although they've scored ten goals between them, the Hornets have only claimed two wins out of their ten games, one of which came against Crystal Palace's South London rivals, Millwall. The other against Reading.
With a good record against The Hornets, Crystal Palace will feel confident in their ability to go to Vicarage Road and gain the result they want but with Watford standing at eighteenth in the table, six places below Palace, they will be on the war path for some points and will give it their all.
So, although they have history and form on their side, Crystal Palace will face a tough test when travelling to the proverbial "Hornets' Nest". Fasten your seat belts, put on your beekeeper suits and brace yourself for a stinger of a game.

My CPFC line-up:

Speroni

Clyne           McCarthy               Gardner         Moxey

Wright                   Garvan

Zaha                   Scannell              Williams

Murray

Subs: Price, Tunchev, Jedinak, Ambrose, Andrew

Watford's last six:

L-W-L-D-W-D

Last time out:

Watford 1-1 Crystal Palace

Weimann (10')        Vaughan (40')

Match Facts:

- The teams have met 96 times in the league, Palace winning 40, Watford 35

- Crystal Palace have won eight times in the last ten meetings

- Crystal Palace concede an average of 1.4 goals away from home, this equals their scoring record

- Watford score an average of 1 goal at home, conceding an average of 1.4

My Prediction:

Watford 2-3 Crystal Palace

Eustace (2)     Zaha (2)

                      Murray