12 Jun 2019
While still not mathematically safe from relegation, Southampton are virtually over the line. The Saints are five points clear of third-from-bottom Cardiff, have four games still to play and have a superior goal-difference.
Cardiff still have to face Fulham (A), Crystal Palace (H) and Manchester United (A), while the Saints have Bournemouth (H), West Ham (A) and Huddersfield (H) after Tuesday’s trip to Watford.
Southampton won four of their last seven Premier League games, but come here on the back of a lacklustre 3-1 defeat at Newcastle on Saturday. They have scored in each of their last seven Premier League games and are 1/3 to grab at least one goal at Vicarage Road (over 0.5 goals).
Watford have an FA Cup final against Manchester City to look forward to and should they lose that, there is still the possibility they can play in the Europa League next season if they finish seventh.
Currently eighth, they won 2-1 at Huddersfield on Saturday to keep pace with seventh-placed Everton, who have played a game more.
Watford will face the likes of Wolves (H), Chelsea (A) and West Ham (A) in their remaining EPL games, ahead of the FA Cup final on May 18.
The Hornets have alternated between winning and losing in each of their last 10 games in League and Cup, but the Genting Casino Premier League odds for Watford to break that sequence and win on Tuesday night are 5/4.
Southampton have a good recent record over the Hornets, having lost just one of their last nine visits to Vicarage Road (W2 D6) and they are 23/10 to win this clash. The draw is available at 12/5.
TEAM NEWS
Southampton are likely to be without Denmark international Jannik Vestergaard, who is still recovering from a knock which kept him out of the Saints’ defeat at St James’ Park on Saturday.
The absence of the former £18m Borussia Monchengladbach defender means manager Ralph Hasenhuttl will have to shuffle the pack again, but with Yan Valery returning from injury, the Saints have a more solid-looking midfield unit.
Watford boss Javi Gracia has more attacking options after Roberto Pereyta and Adalberto Penaranda were declared fit. Pereyra has missed the last two games, while Penaranda could be on the bench, having missed several weeks.
However, they will be without Jose Holebas, Tom Cleverley, Domingos Quina and Sebastian Prodl, plus suspended Troy Deeney.
SAINTS MARCH ON?
Gracia will be concerned with Watford’s recent defensive record that has not seen them keep a clean sheet in any of their last eight Premier League games and keeper Ben Foster (above) could be in for another busy evening. Watford are 2/1 to keep Southampton scoreless.
Yet Saints have had a bout of travel sickness in recent weeks. Having remained unbeaten in four away games, they subsequently lost three of the next four, despite scoring in each of their last seven outings. The Genting Casino Premier League odds are 3/1 for Watford to win but concede.
Given Watford’s defensive issues, they will hope to outscore the Saints, and Abdoulaye Doucoure has scored in three of his last four games against Southampton. He is 15/4 to score at any time.
France international Gerald Deulofeu has scored twice in two of his last three games for Watford and he is 15/8 to score at any time and 10/1 to score two or more. He has also scored eight goals in his last nine appearances, so might appear a bit of value in the goalscorer markets.
Saints will rely on Charlie Austin, who has been getting plenty of service of late. He has scored four goals in his last three starts against the Hornets and is 11/5 to score at any time.
No less than 12 of the last 18 meetings saw three goals or more and it is 4/5 that over 2.5 goals will be scored at Vicarage Road on Tuesday.
However, just nine of those 18 clashes saw both sides net and it is 23/20 for one or other to draw a blank this time.
Southampton have lost just one of their last 11 meetings with Watford in all competitions (W5 D5) and it is 6/10 that the visitors either win or draw the game on the Double Chance market.
To see all the odds on this clash, click here.
