THE stakes couldn't be higher at Vicarage Road tomorrow (Wednesday) evening as Watford welcome Barnsley after their heroics in the FA Cup this season.

The Tykes need to get points on the board to avoid relegation after slipping into the bottom three over the weekend, while the Golden Boys have to continue the momentum after a victory over Coventry and last night's Stoke result going their way.

Barnsley lost out in Sunday's all-Championship FA Cup semi final at Wembley and it will be a feeling that the majority of Watford's squad can appreciate.

It was only last year that the Golden Boys had just lost out at the same stage, going out to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Hornets didn't react in the best way and had to travel to Ewood Park to face Blackburn just four days later.

Rovers won the encounter 3-1 as the Hornets struggled to re-adjust to league action.

The Tykes now must pick themselves up to ensure they are playing Championship football next season.

While for the Hornets, this is their game in hand and one that potentially could see them top, if they win on Wednesday. But it's the final league position come May 4th that will really matter to the squad.

Saturday's goalscorer Tommy Smith kept his head to win the clash for the 'Orns and calm heads will be required throughout the run-in. He knows how the Barnsley squad will be feeling right now. 

Smith said: "They're quite a big side and similar to us in many ways. It will be a physical game and we had a few decisions go against us up there so it will be nice to get three points over them.

"The biggest thing for them will be the emotional drain and trying to pick themselves back up, they have to travel to us and they have to get a win because they dropped into the bottom three and that might be playing on their mind a little bit.

"I guess it will be quite tough for them to be honest, but they'll be up for the game and they'll know what they need to do."

Aidy Boothroyd will welcome back Tamas Priskin into the fold after the striker returned from his loan spell at Preston North End, where he found the back of the net twice in four starts and one substitute appearance.

Darius Henderson is available for selection after missing out on the last two games for the 10 bookings he has picked up this season. The manager will need to decide whether to change a winning team with the top-scorer ready for action.

The return of the two names above will put pressure on the other front players in Nathan Ellington, Steve Kabba and Collins John. 

Midfielder John Eustace will sit out the final match of his suspension. While fellow midfielders Gareth Williams and Damien Francis aren't ready following their respective knee injuries.

Boss Boothroyd will make a decision on the captaincy - with Dan Shittu having worn the armband for the last two fixtures.    

Smith put away his sixth of the campaign against the Sky Blues - it was a massive result for the 'Orns as they needed to banish the result at Hull to the back of their minds.

He added: "At this stage of the season it's about three points rather than playing well, I thought we created one or two clear cut chances. At the end of the day a draw may have been a fair result but at this stage of the season you need to get three points.

"We were disappointed with the goal we conceded and if we could have hung on at 1-0 we would have taken that.

"They were nervous because of relegation and they were scrapping for their lives, there's going to be mistakes in games like that and thankfully they made it and we capitalised on that."

Watford's win put the pressure back on the other teams at the top of the league and that's all good in Smith's eyes, if they can turn up the heat on the others around the Golden Boys then that can only be a good thing.

Smith commented: "It was important to for us to get the three points at the weekend, especially without Hull playing as it puts the pressure back on them and the other teams above us.

"Apart from Bristol, who lost, none of them were playing which puts a little bit of pressure back in their court."

The emphasis to keep morale in the squad high was paramount with so much at stake, the Hornets couldn't afford to mope and feel sorry for themselves after losing out to Hull.

Smith added: "You can't get sucked down to feeling negative after you lose.

"We knew we had the game in hand - we've got quite a nice run-in to be honest compared to the other teams and you can't get sucked down.

"It's one defeat in 12 and although we haven't won as many as we would have liked, it's a great run and we're still in there and in with a shout of being in the top two.

"No team seems to be able to put wins together at the moment and the pressure seems to be getting to all the teams. With our run in we've got every chance getting ourselves in the top two by the end of the season."

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