Match Pack: Watford v Norwich City

• Watford v Norwich City
• Premier League
• Vicarage Road (Behind Closed Doors)
• Tuesday July 7, 6pm BST

• Referee: Anthony Taylor
• Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn
• Fourth official: Andy Woolmer
• Replacement official: Geoffrey Russell
• VAR: Martin Atkinson
• Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis

Norwich City will be looking for their first points since the restart as they visit Vicarage Road off the back of four straight defeats. The Canaries have conceded nine times without scoring since the Premier League resumed, succumbing to a 1-0 home defeat to Brighton last time out. Daniel Farke's side sit bottom of the table, seven points below Watford in 17th.

Watford have no new injury concerns ahead of this fixture. Gerard Deulofeu (cruciate ligament), Daryl Janmaat (knee) and Isaac Success (Achilles) remain unavailable.

Norwich will wait on the fitness of midfielders Kenny McLean (ankle) and Alexander Tettey (knee), who are both doubts according to Daniel Farke. Also injured are defenders Christoph Zimmermann (back), Sam Byram (hamstring) and Grant Hanley (hamstring), as well as midfielders Moritz Leitner (hernia) and Todd Cantwell (hamstring).

Nigel Pearson:

“We've got to be at our best and we can't underestimate the fact that they have got some good players.

“As an attacking force they are quite creative. They don't have the visible pressure but it's still mathematically possible [for them to get out of it] so you can't underestimate anybody.

“We have a healthy respect for them but, for me, it's about what we do ourselves. It's important for us to get the performance right and build on some positive things from the other night.”

Daniel Farke:

“It seems like none of the teams at the bottom are capable of getting points. We've lost our last five, so it's not up to us to say we'll win our next five. It's important to show our pride with good performances and win as many points as possible.

“Watford looked pretty solid and compact against Chelsea, despite the result. They have many experienced players who play with commitment. When they defend deep, it's difficult to create chances against them, but they're also struggling to get the right results.

“They need to win this game to achieve their targets, but we want to be there with a good performance and make their lives as difficult as possible.”

Overall:

• Won 28, Drawn 29, Lost 42

Last Six:

• Nov 2019: Norwich City 0-2 Watford (Deulofeu, Gray) (Premier League)
• May 2016: Norwich City 4-2 Watford (Deeney, Ighalo) (Premier League)
• Dec 2015: Watford 2-0 Norwich City (Deeney, Ighalo) (Premier League)
• Feb 2015: Watford 0-3 Norwich City (Championship)
• Aug 2014: Norwich 3-0 Watford (Championship)
• Sep 2013: Watford 2-3 Norwich City (Acuna, Faraoni) (EFL Cup)

December 5, 2015 – Watford 2-0 Norwich City

Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo both scored as the Hornets dispatched Norwich City in 2015, the last time the teams met at Vicarage Road. The result lifted Watford to ninth in the Premier League and saw Ighalo net for the ninth time before Christmas.

Martin Taylor

After breaking through at Blackburn Rovers in 1997, Martin Taylor had a strong spell at Birmingham City during the 2000s before joining Watford in 2010. A reliable centre-half, he was also a threat going forward from set pieces for the Hornets. This too was the case during a brief loan spell at Norwich City, where he scored one goal in eight appearances.