Stoke – Watford Prediction & Preview and Betting Tips (31.01.2018)

Two clubs that recently sent their coaches off are facing each other this week in Stoke-on-Trent. At Stoke City, Paul Lambert is at the helm and at Watford Javi Garcia recently took over from Marco Silva. Which new manager knows how to book success in the Premier League on Wednesday evening?

Stoke :

After a 2-1 defeat in the FA Cup at Cventry City, Stoke City decided to fire Mark Hughes. The Potters never really got into relegation over the last few seasons, but this season it was so under Hughes and a kick-off in the FA Cup was obviously the drop for the Stoke board. Paul Lambert was appointed as successor to Hughes and has to stay with Stoke City in the Premier League. The Potters were only able to score twenty points after 23 games and when Lambert took over under the line.

After the first match of Lambert as manager of The Potters, Stoke City is already above the relegation streak. Huddersfield Town was Lambert’s first game and the Scot saw his team beat Huddersfield Town 2-0. Joe Allen and Mame Diouf were in the second half accurate on behalf of Stoke City against Huddersfield Town and gave Paul Lambert his first victory. The Potters are now in seventeenth place with 23 points and with Watford-home, Bournemouth-out and Brighton-home three matches come with perspective for Lambert and Stoke City.

At Stoke City they hope to present some reinforcements in the coming hours, but of course the focus is also on the home match against Watford. The Potters managed to leave the relegation places in the previous round and will be happy to climb a few more spots this week, but then Watford has to be won. Stoke City, however, did not win two games in a row this season and that fact will cause little confidence at The Potters.

Watford:

The manager was also recently replaced at Watford. The Hornets are in tenth place in the Premier League, but apparently found it necessary to dismiss Marco Silva. Silva had lost 2-0 on Leicester City on Saturday and the next day, the Portuguese was allowed to grab his stuff, so since then the Spaniard Javi Garcia has been at the helm at Watford. For Garcia, it will be mainly the assignment to stay in the Premier League, but with a lead of four points and a tenth place in the rankings it does not seem to be a problem.

Garcia lost his first match as coach of The Hornets. Last weekend, the FA Cup match against Southampton was on the program and Watford lost 1-0 to The Saints. At the St. Mary’s Stadium, Watford was already behind in the fourth minute by a goal from Southampton-defender Jack Stephens and The Hornets did not surpass the gap. The FA Cup adventure is also coming to an end this season for Watford and so The Hornets can now fully focus on the competition.

Watford lost nine of the last eleven games in the Premier League and it is hoped for the supporters of Watford that Garcia can win his first match in the Premier League immediately. Moreover, The Hornets lost seven of their last eight away games in the Premier League and if you add that up all together, the resignation of Marco Silva can be explained somewhat. Still, Watford is still in tenth place in the Premier League and a loss against Stoke City will not immediately cause panic at The Hornets.