Match Pack: Watford v Middlesbrough

• Watford v Middlesbrough
• Sky Bet Championship
• Vicarage Road
• Saturday September 30, 3pm KO
• Yellow and black home kit

• Referee: Oliver Langford
• Assistant Referees: Hristo Karaivanov and Bhupinder Singh Gill
• Fourth Official: Lewis Smith

Following the highs of last season where Middlesbrough enjoyed a spectacular run of form during the second-half of the campaign - finishing fourth in the table - Boro have had a slow start by their standards.

A first win in the league this season against Southampton last time out will surely give Michael Carrick’s side a boost, and it was followed up by victory against Bradford City during the midweek round of Carabao Cup fixtures. As a result, Boro will be hoping to use that momentum as they head down south to The Vic.

• Watford have won four of their last five home league games against Middlesbrough, since a 2-1 defeat in October 2012.

• Following a 2-0 win over the Golden Boys in January 2023, Middlesbrough are looking to record consecutive league wins against Watford for the first time since November 2011.

• Only Middlesbrough (30) and West Bromwich Albion (28) have won more home Championship points in 2023 than Watford (27), with the Hornets losing just one of their last six league games at Vicarage Road (W3 D2).

For a full statistical breakdown, check out Stats Buzz: Middlesbrough In Numbers.

For Watford, Ken Sema remains sidelined following his calf injury sustained on international duty, but the remainder of the squad is available for selection.

For Middlesbrough, Matt Crooks is back in contention after he served a suspension during the midweek cup tie against Bradford City, while centre-back Rav van den Berg will be touch-and-go for this weekend’s encounter in Hertfordshire.

Valérien Ismaël, Watford Head Coach:

“We are looking forward to this home game, in front of our supporters and with our fans behind us. It’s been a good week, a hard week for the guys in training.

“This is the Championship and anyone can beat anyone. We are focused on ourselves and what we have to do. We know the energy we have to put on the pitch and we know what we have to improve on from the last game.”

Click HERE to see Ismaël’s full pre-match press conference.

Michael Carrick, Middlesbrough Head Coach:

“It’s a new game and the boys are in a good place. We have had a good week, we’ve trained well and they’re hungry for more. We’re not getting carried away thinking we’ve cracked it all of a sudden. The boys are in a good place and looking forward to the game.

“It’s a tough game – every game in this league is a tough game anyway. Watford have some real threats and some good individuals that can twist and turn games in any moment. We will have to be alive and alert, and perform to our level to give us a good chance.”

Overall:

Won: 18
Drawn: 9
Lost: 15

Last Six:

January 2023: Middlesbrough 2-0 Watford (Championship)
August 2022: Watford 2-1 Middlesbrough (Championship)
April 2021: Middlesbrough 1-1 Watford (Championship)
September 2020: Watford 1-0 Middlesbrough (Championship)
January 2017: Watford 0-0 Middlesbrough (Premier League)
October 2016: Middlesbrough 0-1 Watford (Premier League)

In the most recent meeting at The Vic, the Hornets fought back from a goal down against Boro to win 2-1 as Vakoun Bayo converted the decisive strike in stoppage time on the 100-year anniversary of Watford’s first match at Vicarage Road.