Watford vs Burnley Prediction: Clarets can stay on track for promotion

Burnley and Leeds have pulled five points clear of Sheffield United in the race for the two automatic promotion places in the Championship and the Clarets are aiming to stay on course for a return to the Premier League when they take on Watford at Vicarage Road on Friday (15:00, Sky Sports+).

With their title rivals both playing later in the day, Burnley have a chance to claim top spot as they play their hand first, but manager Scott Parker would much rather do that with a three-point haul rather than edging ahead with a draw. The Hornets are seven points off the play-off positions with four matches left to play, so look set to remain in the second tier next season, but they are a stronger team at home than on the road.

Below you can find my Watford vs Burnley predictions.

Football Odds

Team News

Watford are without Kwadwo Baah, Angelo Ogbonna, Yasser Larouci and Giorgi Chakvetadzem but defender Kevin Keben is likely to return after a lengthy injury. Rocco Vata is in contention to break into the starting line-up.

Burnley are still unable to call on Aaron Ramsey, Manuel Benson, Jordan Beyer, Jonjo Shelvey and Mike Tresor, but Lyle Foster has a chance of returning from a shoulder injury.

Watford vs Burnley Odds

Burnley are 4/5 favourites to win on the road, with hosts Watford the 4/1 underdogs and the draw priced at 12/5.

Over 2.5 goals is priced at 5/4, with under 2.5 at 8/13 and it's 11/10 that both teams score in the match and 8/11 that at least one team fails to get on the scoresheet.

Burnley's Zian Flemming is the 11/2 favourite to be the first goalscorer in the match.

Burnley to win @ 4/5

The finishing line is in sight for Burnley as they bid to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt and a second Championship title in three seasons remains a possibility.

Three successive defeats for Sheffield United have enabled the Clarets to move five points ahead of the Blades and a goalless draw at Derby two games ago was the only time they have dropped points in their last five outings.

The danger for Burnley in this fixture is that they can't afford to be distracted by the epic Turf Moor clash with Sheffield United that is looming on Monday, but after a free midweek they should be raring to go.

Burnley had won their three previous away games at Cardiff, Swansea and Coventry before their draw at Derby and extended their unbeaten run to eight matches with their 2-1 home win over Norwich last Friday.

Watford have collected 12 of their 16 league wins this season at Vicarage Road and have picked up seven points from their last three home games, but those were all against weaker teams in Swansea, Plymouth and Hull and this is a tougher test.

The Hornets have already been beaten at home by the Clarets' promotion rivals Leeds (4-0) and Sheff Utd (2-1) and they have also lost there against Preston, Norwich and Millwall in 2025, so the Clarets should be hopeful of adding their name to that list by coming away with all three points.

Josh Brownhill anytime goalscorer @ 13/5

Josh Brownhill has been a fantastic servant for Burnley and he has a happy knack of contributing key goals from midfield when his team need them most.

A tally of 13 goals this season puts the former Bristol City man fourth in the Championship goal charts and he looks overdue a visit to the scoresheet having drawn a blank in four successive games.

Brownhill had scored four times in his previous six appearances and scored the second goal when Burnley won 2-1 at home against Watford in December.

He looks a decent candidate to find a way through the Hornets' defence again.

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