Manchester City turn their attention to the Premier League this Tuesday following their weekend FA Cup exertions as they travel to Vicarage Road to face struggling Watford.
The hosts who sacked their coach on Sunday are still fighting for safety and will be looking to put up a positive performance here and secure their top-flight future. They head into this tie knowing that a point is enough to secure Premier League football for them next season after Bournemouth’s loss against Southampton on Sunday.
For Man City, it will be all about bouncing back and showing what they are capable of doing following their FA Cup exit to Arsenal last Sunday.
Team News
Caretaker boss Hayden Mullins will begin his management journey without injured stars Gerard Deulofeu, Daryl Janmaat, and Isaac Success, while Craig Dawson will miss the tie through suspension. Etienne Capoue remains an injury doubt as he nurses a knock.
Sergio Aguero and Claudio Bravo are the only injury absentees for Pep Guardiola.
Head to head
Man City hold a superior head to head record in this tie with five wins from the last five competitive matches between both sides. “The Cityzens’ have scored 14 in their last two meetings without conceding a goal.
Team Form
Watford’s last five competitive games: LWWLL
Man City’s last five competitive games: LWWWL
Betting Preview
Struggling Watford are heading into this tie with their third managerial sack of the season. Having begun the season with Javi Garcia, the Hornets moved to Quique Sanchez Flores in September, followed by Nigel Pearson in December.
The Englishman departs with Watford sitting in 17th place, three points off Aston Villa in 18th.
The hosts are unbeaten in their last two home games but have lost just once in their last five matches at home (W3, D1). Only one game in that period featured less than 2.5 goals, with just one seeing only one team score.
However, they remain without a clean sheet in their last eight home games with their last coming in their 3:0 trashing of Liverpool in February.
Meanwhile, since the restart, the Hornets have taken just seven points from the 21 available, leaving them on the brink.
Man City will be licking their lips in delight as they visit Vicarage Road with their superior head-to-head record against their hosts enough to give them confidence.
The visitors have won twelve straight competitive head-to-head games against their midweek opponents, while averaging 3.833 goals per gamer in that period.
They will be looking to once again exert their dominance here, but they will have to improve as they have lost four of their last six away games.
Meanwhile, just one of their last five PL games has featured goals from both teams with City able to exert their authority when they score first. But, when they concede first, they tend to lose as all five of the last away league losses saw them trail before the break.
However, Pep Guardiola’s boys were on an impressive run of ten goals in two games before their last outing against Arsenal saw them draw blanks, so one will be permitted to bet on them doing a great job here.
Suggested Bets
City to win both half @ 1/1
Over 3.5 Goals @ 5/4
City to win @ 1/3
