Giving Watford What For?

Games are coming thick and fast at the moment. No sooner had we celebrated beating Premier League opposition, Fulham on Tuesday night in the Carling Cup and then local rivals Preston yesterday, we find ourselves in action again facing Watford this Tuesday night thus completing six games in the month of September alone.

We have now had Saturday/Tuesday games almost every week since the 23rd August although we did have the International break.

Still the Clarets seem to have thrived on the ordeal and have now notched up seven games without defeat and are well placed in the Championship League Table in eighth position just goal difference away from 6th placed Bristol City on the same number of 12 points from 8 games.

Can the Clarets continue their climb up the table and push for an elusive Top 6 slot? We should be able to do so if we can beat Watford on Tuesday night.

Watford at the moment are at most mediocre and for them it has been a poor season so far.

They currently find themselves in 19th position with just 8 points from 8 games and suffered a 2-1 away defeat against Sheffield United on Saturday although they too had a good 1-0 win in the Carling Cup against West Ham at home last week.

The Clarets seem to have come through the Preston game unscathed and Owen Coyle could be tempted to select the same sixteen that did so well against Preston on Saturday although both Ade Akinbiyi and Kevin McDonald could well be back in contention.

The big dilemma for Owen Coyle could also be whether to include Chris Eagles in the starting eleven. He scored late on against Preston in the dying seconds and impressed after coming on from the bench in the second half. But who would he replace? Joey Gudjonsson surely doesn`t deserve to be dropped to the bench after his screamer of a goal from 35 yards on Saturday and Chris McCann just goes from strength to strength. Could we think the unthinkable and drop Elliott who has looked rather lost recently and put in a few average performances by his standards?

There will also be some interest in the Watford team, with former Clarets defender, Jon Harley likely to feature in their sixteen if not starting eleven.

Well let`s hope Coyle gets the selection right and we can get our third victory in three games and notch up our eighth game without defeat against Aidy Boothroyd`s men.

Just hope this game isn`t an anti-climax after the euphoria of Fulham followed even more by the victory over Preston.

I think but don`t expect we should line up as follows:

Jensen, Duff, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Alexander, Eagles, Gudjonsson, McCann, Paterson, Thompson

Subs: Penny, Blake, Elliott, Rodriguez, Kalvenes

No news of any additional injuries and we await to hear if Kevin McDonald and Ade Akinbiyi are back in contention after being sidelined with injury the past few games.

Lots of competition in midfield with Eagles now looking for a starting eleven place

Chris Eagles is quite simply a class player and rather laughable that some fans suggest he flatters to deceive.

More that our other players have yet to catch up with his skills and understanding of the game.

Has to start for me

Watford have significant problems in the back four with defenders Lloyd Doyley, Matt Sadler and now captain Jay Demerit all struggling with injury.

Their problems though were eased by the one month emergency loan signing of Reading`s Sam Sodje and he made his debut in the last match against the Blades.

Keeper, Mart Poom will also be out for up to six months after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the recent 2-2 draw against Reading

I suspect all eyes will be on Jon Harley for obvious reasons

We fought out a 2-2 draw at Turf Moor last season back in March 2008 with Blake getting a brace. A pity as we were on for the double after a well earned victory at Vicarage Road soon after Coyle arrived in November 2007. We won 2-1 at their place with Gray and Gudjonsson getting the goals.

S J Bratt

3-1 Clarets

A tricky away visit to Reading on Saturday 4th October @ 3pm KO

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