Following Watford’s goalless draw with Burnley in Roy Hodgson’s first match in charge, the Hornets will be looking to go one better as they face West Ham United this evening (February 8, 7.45pm KO).
Ahead of the important clash at the London Stadium, we take a statistical deep dive into the facts and figures that surround the encounter.
Previous Meetings
Three of Watford’s five Premier League wins over West Ham have come away from home, during the 2006/07, 2016/17 and 2018/19 campaigns.
The Hornets’ seven away Premier League games against the Hammers have alternated between a defeat and a win each time, losing 3-1 in July 2020 on their last visit.
The home team has lost four of the last five Premier League meetings between West Ham and Watford.
The Golden Boys have found the back of the net in eight of their last nine away games against West Ham in all competitions, with the only exception in this run coming in February 2018.
Key Players
Joshua King has scored more Premier League goals versus West Ham than any other current member of the Watford squad (5), with King only netting more goals against Everton (8) in the competition.
West Ham’s Mark Noble has scored six Premier League goals against Watford, his most against a single opponent. Five of those have been penalties with only Alan Shearer ever scoring more penalties against a single opponent in the Premier League (7 v Everton).
Duo Michail Antonio (5 goals, 4 assists) and Jarrod Bowen (5 goals, 4 assists) have each been directly involved in nine Premier League goals at the London Stadium this season – no player has been involved in more home goals in the competition so far this term.
Emmanuel Dennis netted in the reverse fixture, which saw Watford lose 4-1. The last Hornets player to score both home and away against the Hammers in the Premier League was Gerard Deulofeu in 2018/19.
The Dugouts
Watford boss Hodgson and West Ham manager David Moyes have taken charge of a combined total of 970 top-flight matches.
Hodgson and Moyes have faced each other a total of 12 times with the Hornets manager winning three of the games (D2 & L7).
The 74-year-old has come up against the Hammers on 18 different occasions (W6, D5 & L7).
Opposition Stat Attack
Declan Rice has attempted the highest amount of passes in the West Ham squad in both the opponents’ half (681) and his own half (519).
Bowen leads the way with seven assists to his name while Antonio is West Ham’s top goalscorer with eight.
Former Watford defender Craig Dawson has completed the most clearances (70) and blocks (26) for his side.
