Watford vs Leeds Prediction: League leaders to win again

Leeds United are two points clear at the top of the Championship table and they have the chance to extend their cushion when they face Watford at Vicarage Road on Tuesday (19:45, Sky Sports+). The Whites are unbeaten in their last 13 appearances in the second tier, and they have won their last two.

The Hornets earned a respectable draw at Sunderland on Saturday but they have lost four home games on the spin in the league. Read on for my Watford vs Leeds prediction, supported by the latest team news and match odds.

Watford vs Leeds Odds

Watford's run of four home defeats, and the pedigree of their opponents, has them at 9/1 to win on Tuesday.

Leeds have drawn two of their last three away trips in the Championship, and the stalemate is on offer at 4/1.

They are 1/3 to come away with the three points but better value can be had by backing them to win to nil, which has been the outcome in their previous eight victories in the second tier. It's marketed at a very attractive price of 19/20, which has an implied probability of 51.3%, for this clash.

Leeds winger Manor Solomon has bagged three goals in his past five Championship outings and he is 21/10 (32.3%) to strike any time at Vicarage Road.

Football Odds

Team News

Watford head into Tuesday's clash without the services of trio Kwadwo Baah, Pierre Dwomoh and Daniel Bachmann due to various problems.

Attacker Rocco Vata and full-back Caleb Wiley are also major doubts with injury issues of their own, but Vakoun Bayo is set to return to the squad following his suspension against Sunderland.

The forward's return is a welcome one for the Hornets as he has netted 10 goals in the Championship in 29 appearances. Bayo should be supported by Georgian Giorgi Chakvetadze, who has been one of the best ball carriers in the division this season.

Patrick Bamford remains out with a hamstring problem for Leeds, but boss Daniel Farke has no other concerns as his side continue to push for a return to the Premier League.

The Whites head coach made a whole host of changes for the FA Cup clash against Millwall on Saturday, but the team's squad players were unable to seize the opportunity to impress. So the first-team regulars are going to come back in for the trip to Hertfordshire to show the fringe stars how it's done.

Joel Piroe has scored 13 times in the league this campaign and only Norwich City's Borja Sainz (15) has found the net more times than him. The Dutchman will once again spearhead Leeds' attack, while Brenden Aaronson, Daniel James and Solomon will provide the attacking support, with the quartet linking up brilliantly in recent weeks.

Leeds and both teams to score @ 9/4

Leeds are in an excellent rhythm at the moment and seeing as Bamford is their only injury concern, they could soon start to pull away in the promotion race because of the attacking quality they have available.

Their home form has been majestic but it hasn't quite translated into their away contests. That being said, the Whites have not lost on their travels since November 30, winning four of the six they've played since.

Leeds ended Frank Lampard's unbeaten home record at Coventry City last Wednesday with a 2-0 victory, and now they face a Watford side who have been defeated just four times at Vicarage Road in the Championship.

Those losses have come in their most recent four outings, however, so Leeds will be hoping to capitalise on their current woes, but they also cannot underestimate the Hornets.

Boss Tom Cleverley may be under pressure but Watford's draw at Sunderland on Saturday shows the players are fighting for him. That will have given them a lift coming into Tuesday, but I don't think it will be enough against the free-scoring league leaders.

I'm expecting Leeds' unbeaten streak to continue, adding another important victory to the board in their quest for promotion. I do think BTTS is worth combining here, though, as three of Watford's recent home defeats have produced goals at both ends.

Joel Piroe anytime goalscorer @ 23/20

Leeds' striker is in good form right now and he is making his move to surpass the division's current leading marksman Sainz in the race for the Golden Boot. The Dutchman is nine goals away from reaching his haul of 22 that he obtained for Swansea City in 2021/22.

With the quality of talent around him, and the volume of goals Leeds have scored this campaign, he could be in for plenty more in the remaining 15 fixtures between now and May.

That's why I fancy him to profit against Watford. The Hornets' solidity at Vicarage Road has evaporated and they are going to struggle to handle the attacking might of Farke's men.

Piroe has three goals in his last two league appearances, so I think his scoring streak will continue in Hertfordshire.

Offers

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