Watford v Cardiff Prediction: Hosts should be too good

Watford and Cardiff are two teams looking to make a second half of the season run to the play-offs in the congested second tier.

The pair’s recent form is in sharp contrast however and the Bluebirds will need a turn around if they are to finish in the top six.

Here we pick out the best bets for this Championship game.

Team News

Watford’s Jeremy Ngakia, Edo Kayembe and Ken Sema remain sidelined and expected to miss this clash.

Emmanuel Dennis is being eased back into the team after returning to the Hornets and the striker may have to settle for a place on the bench for this matchup.

Aaron Ramsey is set to miss out for Cardiff while Callum O’Dowda and Joe Ralls are also major doubts.

Nat Phillips could feature after joining from Liverpool on loan but Ebou Adams will not play a part after leaving for Derby.

Match Odds

Watford can be backed at 9/10 for the victory, while Cardiff are 10/3 outsiders and the draw is available at 5/2.

Over 2.5 goals comes in at EVS, while both teams to score is priced at 5/6 while it is 2/1 for over 1.5 goals in the first half.

Watford @ 9/10

Cardiff have been in poor form recently, losing four of their last five matches in all competitions.

The Bluebirds’ only positive result in that time was a 2-1 win over strugglers QPR and another victory looks unlikely when they visit Watford.

The Hornets have won five of the last eight meetings between these two teams and have only lost two of their last ten home games in all competitions.

Valerien Ismael’s men have netted in their last 13 games at Vicarage Road and may be able to take advantage of what has been a leaky Cardiff defence in recent weeks.

Erol Bulut’s men have conceded ten goals in their last three outings and it is nine games since they kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Millwall.

Their leaky defence may continue to be an issue, take Watford for the win.

Over 2.5 goals @ EVS

These two teams tend to put on an entertaining affair when they meet, six of their last eight clashes have seen three or more goals and a repeat of that is fancied in this clash.

Thanks to their leaky defence, seven of Cardiff’s last eight matches have gone over 2.5 goals.

Six of Watford’s last nine home games in all competitions have also gone over the total and these two sides may well put on an exciting clash in this one, take over 2.5 goals.