On Sky
City again have the opportunity to register their first back to back victories of the season when lowly Watford visit fortress Eastlands. This is the two teams first Premiership meeting as in the late nineties and early noughties they yo-yo’ed apart from one another.
Vital Quotes:
Stuart Pearce reflects on what could be a tight encounter.
“I`ve seen Watford live more than any other team in the Premiership,” he says, “and to be honest I don`t think that they have been overwhelmed in any game.
“They are a dogged outfit, they are well organized, they have a manager who knows exactly what he wants from his players and the players know that. You can see that in any given game, maybe the only thing they are guilty of are one or two basic errors that have cost them.”
In the main they are a tough nut to play against because they are very direct, there`s great organisation in the outfit and they seem to have great team spirit. If anyone thinks when they play Watford they are in for an easy game, they are sadly mistaken.
“Their first win, against Middlesbrough, got them out of the bottom three and that shows how tight the league is. They have not been cut adrift by any means, and they will have the view that a couple of wins back-to-back will see them out of trouble.”
Manchester City Team News:
Stuart Pearce has had the luxury of nearly fully fit squad for a few games now and the performances on the pitch have certainly reflected that with only an unfortunate defeat at Anfield coming in between two fine 3-1 victories, with the Aston Villa game being our first three point haul away from Eastlands. Pearce is likely to name an unchanged side from that victory at Villa park.
Player to watch: Hatem Trabelsi
Joey Barton might be the heart of everything City do, but Hatem’s ability to take players on and to provide top crosses down the right are that little bit of class that is needed in the premiership.
Watford Team News:
Watford should welcome back forwards Hameur Bouazza and Ashley Young after they have recovered from an ankle injury and flu respectively.
But they are without suspended defender Chris Powell, while goalkeeper Ben Foster, defender Clarke Carlisle and forward Marlon King are injured.
Player to watch: Ashley Young
The live wire England U21 international has plenty of pace to worry defences.
Match Facts & Stats
City and Watford met each other a few times in the top flight in the 80’s and the first couple of games City got the better results at home, but as City’s league form was not that good Watford got the better of us, in fact dumped us out of the FA Cup in a 2nd Replay in February 1986, winning 3-1. Our last meetings came in our Championship winning season under Kevin Keegan where we had a curtain raiser with new managers; Keegan and Vialli tipping their wits against each other, but City came on top on both occasions with City registering their 2nd double of the season. So their is no clear cut trend to point to in this fixture. With Watford looking to end a three match league loosing streak they will certainly have something to prove to their detemined manager and their fans.
Ref Watch:
Mark Clattenburg – you have to go back to October 2005 the last time he officiated a City game. West Ham at Home where City won 2-1, Andrew Cole with a brace and the only two booking’s of the game came for City player; Jordan & Musampa – neither two will be playing.
Match Prediction:
A hard fought game – but City to edge it 2-0.
Next Fixtures:
Manchester United away with an early 12:45pm kick off on Prem Plus.