EPL: Watford v Bournemouth preview

Watford v Bournemouth preview

Watford will be looking to continue their positive home form when they host Bournemouth.

While the Hornets have conceded eight without reply in their last two away matches, they have won four and drawn one of their last five in all competitions at Vicarage Road.

"When we play at home we are more comfortable, we are stronger," said manager Javi Gracia. "The last three games we got nine points and now we have confidence. We will see if we are able to improve our level, but now we trust in our behaviour at home.

 

"We need the next three points. Then we see if we are able to win more points to achieve records or other things. In this moment I think we need the next three points against a team that is in the same position as us."

Even though Bournemouth and Watford are 10th and 11th respectively in the Premier League, they are not quite out of the relegation battle.

 

Both sides are eight points above the relegation zone with seven games left to play.

Bournemouth have won just one of their last five matches, but that was against West Brom in their most recent game.

 

Christian Kabasele has returned to training but will not be fit to face the Cherries.

Tom Cleverley, Younes Kaboul and Nathaniel Chalobah are still missing with long-term injuries but Craig Cathcart played his first minutes since August for Northern Ireland during the international break, and will be available.

 

Bournemouth have a doubt over forward Lys Mousset after he did feature for France Under-21s because of illness.

Defender Adam Smith will be assessed on the back problem picked up before the international break.

Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic missed Bosnia and Herzegovina's friendlies as he manages a long-standing knee problem, while midfielder Harry Arter (calf) and winger Ryan Fraser (back) should be in contention. Defender Tyrone Mings, though, continues his rehabilitation from a back problem.