- Watford have lost just one of their last ten matches
- Ipswich have kept only one clean sheet in their last nine fixtures
- Recommended bet: Watford draw no bet

The Hornets are only two points adrift of the top six and their rising stature was demonstrated at the weekend when they came from behind to earn a well-deserved 1-1 draw at home to fourth-placed Southampton.

Second-placed Ipswich are 20 points above the Hornets but they will be more concerned by attempting to stretch their seven-point advantage over third-placed Leeds.

The Tractor Boys are on a three-game winning streak after Saturday’s 2-0 triumph at mid-table Middlesbrough.

Team news

Watford boss Valerian Ismael will need to check on holding midfielder Jake Livermore, who missed Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Southampton with a minor knee injury.

Rhys Healey came off the bench to score the equaliser against the Saints but he seems likely to remain on the substitutes’ bench.

Ipswich head coach Kieran McKenna has a couple of decisions to make with midfielder Massimo Luongo and right back Brandon Williams available to return after serving one-game bans.

Jack Taylor and Harry Clarke stepped in for Saturday’s 2-0 win at Middlesbrough and will be hoping to keep their places.

Midfielder Sam Morsy is just one booking away from a ban and needs to be on his best behaviour if he is to feature in Saturday’s East Anglian derby at home to Norwich.

The stats

Watford have lost just one of their last ten matches.

The Hornets have lost only one of their last eight home fixtures and they have scored in all of them.

Both teams have scored in each of Watford’s last three games.

Ipswich have lost only one of their last 16 Championship matches.

They are the top scorers in the division and have netted two goals or more in seven of their last eight league fixtures.

The Tractor Boys have kept only one clean sheet in their last nine games.

Prediction

Watford are going under the radar in the Championship playoff race but they can announce themselves as genuine contenders by defeating second-placed Ipswich at Vicarage Road.

The Hornets have had a tough 18 months since losing Premier League status in May 2022 but they are moving forward under Valerian Ismael.

There was talk of a managerial change after Watford’s sticky start to the season but the trigger-happy Hornets’ board took everyone by surprise by handing Ismael an extended contract.

Since news broke of Ismael’s improved deal, Watford have lost just two of 11 games.

The Hornets have climbed to tenth but their recent performances, including Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Southampton, have suggested that their ceiling could be a fair bit higher.

Ipswich arrive at Vicarage Road in second place and on a three-game winning sequence, but they face a tough challenge and may suffer their third league defeat of the campaign.

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