Watford resume their second-tier campaign with a trip to Deepdale this weekend to face Preston North End (Saturday August 20, 3pm KO).
Ahead of what promises to be a tantalising encounter, we take a look at some of the stats, facts and figures that surround the fixture...
Previous Meetings
Watford have won their last two league games against Preston, but have never won three in a row versus the Lilywhites.
Preston have only lost two of their 18 home league matches against Watford, although they lost their most recent game against them at Deepdale in February 2021, losing 1-0.
When both sides last met during the 2020/21 Championship campaign, the Lilywhites lost home and away to Watford. It was just the second time they have lost back-to-back league games against the Hornets, also doing so in August 1974.
Just one of the last 11 league meetings between the two sides has seen the away team win. This came in the most recent clash, with the Hornets winning 1-0 in February 2021 through a João Pedro spot-kick.
Preston have never failed to score against Watford in consecutive league contests.
Recent Form
Since Preston manager Ryan Lowe’s first league game in charge in December 2021, the Lilywhites have only lost two of their 15 home league games.
Watford have only lost three of their last 23 Championship games, with all their defeats coming away from Vicarage Road.
Preston’s four league games this season have seen just one goal so far, with North End having three goalless draws and a 1-0 victory. They’ve never kept a clean sheet in each of their opening five league games before.
Should the Golden Boys avoid defeat, this will be the first time since 2000/01 under Graham Taylor that the Hornets haven’t lost any of their opening five league games.
Opposition Stat Attack
With only one goalscorer this season, Brad Potts tops Preston’s rankings for strikes and Robbie Brady for assists.
Striker Troy Parrott has had the most shots on target (7), while defender Liam Lindsay has failed to hit the target six times – the highest in the squad.
Andrew Hughes has attempted the most passes for the Lilywhites (224), while Brady tops the standings for passes in the opposition half (128).
Defensively, Brady has also attempted the most tackles (12), while Lindsay tops clearances (20) and blocks (7).
