Watford vs Sunderland Prediction: 7/1 shout for correct score at the Vic

The Championship season is reaching its conclusion, and two clubs who will definitely be competing in the 2024/25 edition are Watford and Sunderland. Both clubs are ending this season with a different manager in the dugout to the one which began the campaign with hope in August, and both clubs are set for bottom half finishes. 

It means, with the pressure off for both teams, we could see an entertaining encounter at Vicarage Road. They meet at 15:00 on Saturday afternoon, and below you can find my Watford vs Sunderland prediction. 

Team News

Tom Cleverley has undoubtedly made Watford more solid since he got the top job, but they are still searching for attacking flair. Three of their last four games have finished 0-0 and the back three is doing a fantastic job, but Emmanuel Dennis, Yáser Asprilla and Vakoun Issouf Bayo are all struggling for goals at the other end of the pitch. Mileta Rajovic and Matheus Martins would be the most likely replacements if changes are made, while Ken Sema may start on the left ahead of Jamal Lewis.

Sunderland have scored just one goal in their last four outings and Mike Dodds is trying to come up with a solution to solve their goalscoring woes. Jack Clarke, Chris Rigg and Bradley Dack started in the defeat to Millwall, while Mason Burstow was left on the bench. The Chelsea loanee could come back in for this one as the Black Cats search for goals. 

Match Odds

Watford are 11/8 to win this match, giving them a win probability of 42%, while Sunderland are 21/20 for the three points. A draw can be backed at 9/4, BTTS is 8/11 and over 2.5 goals is 1/1. 

Watford to win @ 11/8

I’m more than happy to back the home side to win this one. Although goals have been of short supply lately for Watford, Cleverley has transformed them into a far more competitive second tier outfit. They’ve only lost to Southampton in their last seven matches and there’s a feeling that they should have enough to overcome a Sunderland side who are out of sorts. 

They impressively beat West Brom 1-0 last weekend, but followed that up with another tepid display in the 1-0 home defeat to Millwall. That makes it just one win, and two goals scored, in their last five games. With a manager who knows he isn’t going to be in charge by the summer, it feels as though the players have taken their foot off the gas. On the beach, and about to get beaten in another away game, I feel Watford can win this one narrowly. 

Correct score: Watford 1-0 Sunderland @ 7/1

The price of 8/11 for there to be under 2.5 goals speaks volumes on how these two teams are currently playing. Goals are certainly not on the agenda at Vicarage Road as 0-0 specialists Watford host a Sunderland outfit who have lost their way. Two goals in five games for the Black Cats comes up against a Watford defence that has kept three clean sheets out of four, so we can expect another shutout from the hosts. 

I do believe however they will win narrowly, and in my eyes that means it is well worth backing the correct score. Watford haven’t been ripping into teams of late so I think picking them to get just the one goal, in a 1-0 win at 7/1, is the best play here.

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