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Match Pack: Middlesbrough v Watford
Everything you need to know ahead of Middlesbrough v Watford in the Championship.
www.watfordfc.com
Date: 04/04/2021
By: Watford FC Staff
Match Dashboard
MATCH INFO
- Middlesbrough v Watford
- Sky Bet EFL Championship (Match 40)
- Riverside Stadium (Behind Closed Doors)
- Monday April 5, 12.30pm BST
OFFICIALS
- Referee: Tim Robinson
- Assistants: Mark Dwyer, Andrew Fox
- Fourth Official: Tony Harrington
OPPOSITION
Middlesbrough sit ninth in the Championship, but a 3-1 loss to Bournemouth on Friday damaged their play-off hopes. After a run of five defeats in six home league games, Neil Warnock's side have gone unbeaten in three leagues games at the Riverside (W2 D1). Duncan Watmore, who scored Boro's only goal at the Vitality Stadium, is the team's top scorer, with seven strikes this season.
KEY STATS
- Middlesbrough have won none of their last eight league games against Watford (D3 L5) since a 2-1 away win in October 2012.
- Watford have kept a clean sheet in their last four league matches against Middlesbrough, last conceding in October 2014, a Kike goal in a 1-1 draw.
- Middlesbrough have won back-to-back home league games, having been victorious in just one of their previous seven at the Riverside (D1 L5).
- Watford have won four of their last five away league games (L1), as many as they had in their previous 27 on the road (W4 D9 L14).
- Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock has lost 17 league matches against Watford, his joint-most as a manager in the top four tiers of English football alongside Reading. Warnock has lost each of his last five league meetings with the Hornets.
TEAM NEWS
Ismaïla Sarr returned to the team on Friday following a hamstring injury, whereas Tom Cleverley missed out due to a setback in training late last week. João Pedro picked up an injury during the win against Sheffield Wednesday. Troy Deeney (Achilles) and Tom Dele-Bashiru (ACL) remain sidelined.PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Xisco Muñoz, Watford Head Coach:
“We have seven games more. We will prepare for the next game and try for three more points. The next three points are the most important, as always.
“My focus is on the next game. I need everybody together until the final, and it’s important our fans are with us, because maybe we will have difficult moments until the final.
“We will see what happens until the final, but I promise we will try to give our best.”
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall:
- Won 17, Drawn 8, Lost 14
Last Six:
- Sep 2020: Watford 1-0 Middlesbrough (Championship)
- Jan 2017: Watford 0-0 Middlesbrough (Premier League)
- Oct 2016: Middlesbrough 0-1 Watford (Premier League)
- Apr 2015: Watford 2-0 Middlesbrough (Championship)
- Oct 2014: Middlesbrough 1-1 Watford (Championship)
- Feb 2014: Watford 1-0 Middlesbrough (Championship)
GOLDEN GAME
Watford took all three points on their last trip to the Riverside Stadium, as a stunning 54th-minute strike from José Holebas was the difference between the sides. The result moved Walter Mazzarri's side up to 10th in the Premier League, with Isaac Success in particular impressing for the Hornets.https://www.watfordfc.com/news/match-pack-middlesbrough-v-watford#play
