Oxford United vs Watford predictions: Still's raiders to pile pressure on U's
Steve Davies
Oxford have drawn three and lost one of their last four in the Championship
Watford have won one of their last six to damage their play-off hopes
Recommended bet: Watford to win
The pressure is piled on Oxford United once again as they prepare to welcome Watford to the Kassam Stadium for a crucial Championship tussle.
The U's left it late to beat the drop last season and have five games to escape from the bottom three this time around.
Monday's 2-2 draw at 10-man Portsmouth was a missed opportunity for UNited, who need to pick themselves up ahead of a visit from a Watford side still harbouring slim hopes of making the play-offs.
The latest Oxford Utd vs Watford odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Jack Currie missed Easter after the Oxford midfielder took a whack on the ankle in the 2-0 loss at Southampton, while Tyler Goodrham and Brian De Keersmaecker are out for the season.
James Abankwah missed Watford's Easter double-header after picking up a thigh injury while away with Republic of Ireland.
Moroccan midfielder Othman Maamma is back in full training after six weeks out and Marc Bola should be fit after a hip problem, while Hector Kyprianou, Rocco Vata and Jack Grieves are out.
The stats
Oxford have lost just one of their last seven matches, drawing each of their last two, whle they have scored only five goals in their last 10 home matches in all competitions
Watford have found the net in 14 of their last 16 away games.
Matt Bloomfield's U's concede an average 7.2 corners per game, the most in the Championship.
Watford's last nine matches have produced 49 yellow cards at 4.5 per game.
The latest Oxford Utd vs Watford odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Expect another nervy afternoon at the Kassam, where Watford can take advantage of the tension by chalking up a timely away win.
The pressure is on Oxford after a pair of draws over Easter saw them fail to clamber out of the bottom three.
They are now on a run of no wins in four since a three-game winning streak had them hoping they could put daylight between themselves and the likes of Leicester and Pompey.
And while very recent history – last season to be precise – tells us Oxford know how to survive a relegation dogfight, it does not get any easier.
And that backdrop looks to offer the Hornets a fantastic chance of sending the home side nearer the drop.
Watford are unbelievably inconsistent, which always makes them attractive at decent odds.
They have won only four times since the turn of the year, but on the flip side they have lost only three of their last 10.
The visitors could, in theory, make the play-offs though Ed Still's main objective is keeping his job at a club where you do not get long to stake a claim and that means, even if promotion is not a realistic prospect, he and his team have to stay positive.
The pressure is all on Oxford and this gives Watford a free hit.
