Watford boss Slaven Bilić is under no illusions about the challenges associated with Saturday’s trip to promotion rivals Middlesbrough (January 28, 3pm KO), but with ever-increasing options and three strong-willed league displays so far in 2023, he is confident the team can stretch their unbeaten run to four on Teesside.
Victory on the road at Norwich at the turn of the New Year preceded a 2-0 triumph over Blackpool and a 1-1 draw against Rotherham back at home, and the Hornets could complete January without defeat in the Sky Bet Championship with a positive result at the Riverside Stadium.
Boro’s fortunes have turned since Watford’s last-gasp 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture at the end of August - on the 100th anniversary of the club’s move to Vicarage Road - with the arrival of Head Coach Michael Carrick kickstarting an impressive run that has lifted them into the play-off places.
Indeed, eight wins in Carrick’s first 12 games in charge preceded a 2-0 defeat away at North-East rivals Sunderland last time out, and Bilić is expecting a tough game against a side looking to bounce back to winning ways at the first time of asking.
“They’re a very good team,” said Bilić, 54. “Since Carrick has come in they’ve shown how good they are and the quality they possess, and we go there now with them just two points behind us in the table.
“The last game was a derby game, and they got a red card so I think it was probably just a one-off. They’ll be looking to get back on track, and with Carrick in charge - and all the experience and know-how he’s got - it’s going to be hard.
“But I think we’re in a good moment ourselves. We’ve shown over the last few weeks that without loads of players, and our full quality, that we can play good games and get points, and I’m hopeful that will be the case again this weekend.”
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As the first-team’s absentee list continues to shrink slowly - with Keinan Davis set to be involved for the first time since limping off at Carrow Road - the addition of new players to the squad in the January transfer window has also provided more options to Bilić.
Latest arrival Henrique Araújo is eligible for selection against Middlesbrough following his loan move from Benfica, and Bilić has so-far been impressed by what he’s seen of the Portuguese 21-year-old at the London Colney training ground.
Bilić said: “He’s looked very sharp so far, and he’s put a smile on my face. He’s only had a handful of sessions, and we know it’s early days, but he’s very mature for his age and I’ve been impressed.
“The challenge for him is being able to jump into the Championship and kick on straight away. He seems to have slotted in well, and there are a lot of elements that make me hopeful he will do well.”
While Araújo joined Ismaël Koné, João Ferreira and Matheus Martins by coming into the fold this month, William Troost-Ekong left for Salernitana this week, and Bilić hailed the Nigerian defender for his service to the Hornets during his time in charge.
He added: “Ekong is a good leader, he was really important in the dressing room and he was at the club for a long time. At the end he didn’t play every game, but he was involved most of the time, and I wish him all the best.
“We still have a few days before the end of the transfer window, and we’ll see if some more business will happen.”
