Watford are finally off the bottom with a win and draw in their last two games and Nigel Pearson will see this as a chance to begin roping in Villa, third-bottom and five points ahead. Dean Smith’s side are also showing a hint of long overdue form after their defeat of Norwich on Boxing Day, only their second win in 10 attempts. Pearson must decide whether to stick with Troy Deeney up front; the Watford captain’s fitness must be managed but he scored late winners against Villa twice in 2015-16 – the last season these teams were in the same division. Mark Tallentire
Saturday 3pm
Venue Vicarage Road
Last season n/a
Referee Simon Hooper
This season G5 Y16 R1 3.4 cards/game
Odds H Evens A 3-1 D 11-4
WATFORD
Subs from Gomes, Bachmann, Quina, Chalobah, Zeegelaar, Foulquier, Dahlberg, Success, Dawson, Masina, Pereyra
Doubtful Deeney (match fitness), Sarr (eye)
Injured Cleverley (calf), Holebas (ankle), Janmaat (knee), Prödl (knee), Welbeck (hamstring, all unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y38 R1
Form LLDLWD
Leading scorer Deulofeu 3
ASTON VILLA
Subs from Nyland, Kalinic, Taylor, Chester, Ramsey, Lansbury, Kodjia, Jota, O’Hare, Elmohamady, Douglas Luiz, Engels
Doubtful Davis (hamstring), Mings (hamstring)
Injured Steer (achilles, Feb), McGinn (foot, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y32 R1
Form DLLLLx
Leading scorer Grealish 5
