Match Pack: West Bromwich Albion v Watford

• West Bromwich Albion v Watford
• Sky Bet Championship
• The Hawthorns
• Monday April 1, 3pm KO
• Yellow and black home kit

• Referee: Gavin Ward
• Assistant Referees: Lee Venamore and Alex James
• Fourth Official: Sam Barrott

A 1-1 draw at Millwall thanks to John Swift’s second-half penalty meant West Bromwich Albion extended their unbeaten run to seven games on Friday (March 29).

This means they have bettered last season’s points tally with seven games still to go, although Albion stretched their record of not having won away on Good Friday to 21 games.

Albion have sat firmly in fifth in the Sky Bet Championship for the last four months, having won three out of their last five games, scoring 11 goals and conceding five in this time.

This recent run of form sees Albion now seven points clear of Coventry in seventh, albeit having played an extra game.

While the automatic promotion places aren’t mathematically impossible for the Baggies to reach with seven games to go this season, their focus will be on securing their place in the Sky Bet Championship play-off places, with every point still to play for.

• West Bromwich Albion are winless in their last six league games against Watford (D3 L3) since a 3-1 win in December 2016 in the Premier League.

• West Brom are unbeaten in their last seven league games (W4 D3) since a 2-0 home defeat to Southampton in February.

• West Brom are a strong defensive side, conceding the third-least goals (37) in the league so far this season, while also committing the least fouls (318) in the division.

For a full statistical breakdown, click HERE.

Wesley Hoedt is available for selection for Watford after serving his two-game ban for accumulating 10 yellow cards throughout the season.

Emmanuel Dennis will be assessed over the weekend after being taken off in the second half during the 2-2 draw with Leeds United on Good Friday.

Ken Sema and Jeremy Ngakia remain out as they continue their recovery from injury.

For West Brom, there are doubts over the fitness of Cedric Kipré after the defender was forced off in their Good Friday draw at Millwall.

This game comes too soon for forward Josh Maja, who is expected to make his return from long-term injury next week, whereas long-term absentees Jayson Molumby and Daryl Dike will not feature.

Tom Cleverley, Watford Interim Head Coach:

West Brom will be a tough opponent. We really respect what they are doing, they are a well-coached, organised team, and then it's straight into Preston after that.

The players will turn around, dust themselves off, take heart from this performance [against Leeds], and go again Monday.

Carlos Corberán, West Bromwich Albion Head Coach:

I value a lot the effort the players put in [against Millwall] and it helped us get a point. It’s always important to have this mentality. You need quality and a good mentality to achieve things in football.

The key now is to recover and make this point a positive point by winning three points at home to Watford on Monday.

Overall:

Won: 14
Drawn: 12
Lost: 18

Last Six:

September 2023: Watford 2-2 West Bromwich Albion (Championship)
February 2023: Watford 3-2 West Bromwich Albion (Championship)
August 2022: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Watford (Championship)
March 2018: Watford 1-0 West Bromwich Albion (Premier League)
September 2017: West Bromwich Albion 2-2 Watford (Premier League)
April 2017: Watford 2-0 West Bromwich Albion (Premier League)

Heurelho Gomes was the hero for the Hornets during this meeting between the two sides, also played in April. Ben Watson put Watford ahead in the first half, before the Brazilian saved two second-half penalties from Saido Berahino to ensure the three points came back to Hertfordshire.