Watford v Sunderland: Team news, predictions & odds

The game kicks off at 1500 GMT at Vicarage Road. 

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Watford v Sunderland: Manager quotes

   

Walter Mazzarri (Watford)

On Sunderland: "I heard what the Sunderland manager has said about coming to get the three points, but we will be trying to win playing the way I like," Mazzarri said at a press conference.

"We will give everything, I can guarantee that. The result can depend on some episodes, but we will give everything.

"Sunderland are a strong team.

"They deserved win to against Burnley (when they drew 0-0) and some weeks ago they beat (Crystal) Palace 4-0. This is a team we can't underestimate." 

On Watford's season: "I think if we look at the whole of the Premier League season until today, we are completely in line with our objective.

"What I can tell the fans is that we hope to do better, of course, in the next 10 games." 

On  Tom Cleverley: "I am very happy that he signed because he is a player since he arrived who showed he is a great professional.

"He has great technique and great personality. He is a player that I like from all points of view." 

David Moyes (Sunderland)

On his future: "I always felt I had that from the day I came in. It was always said right away there's probably a bigger job to be done and it might take a bit more time, so if you say that, then you want to stay with it.

"I speak to Ellis quite regularly. We have always said things are fine, we have always said what the plan is. There's a building job going on and hopefully we can try to get it all done together." 

On the importance of Jermain Defoe: "We need other people in top form as well, so it's not just about Jermain, it's about the rest of the players as well. They have got to produce and they have got to perform as well.

"We need Jermain's goals, but we need people to help him score those goals and we need people to help create those goals. I'm only interested in Sunderland staying up, I have got no thoughts about the World Cup or anything like that at this moment in time.

Moyes said: "I'm not sure it's for everybody and there might be nutritionists out there who tell us it's the wrong thing, but I'm sure there are others who would say it's definitely the correct thing.

"But you know, if it makes him feel good, if it makes him feel confident, then so be it."

Asked if Defoe's contract which will allow him to leave Sunderland for nothing in the event of relegation he said: "The only thing I can clear up is we are not down and we are not planning to go down, we are planning to stay up."

Watford v Sunderland: Team news

Watford have doubts over striker Troy Deeney (illness) and defender Sebastian Prodl (calf) for the visit of bottom club Sunderland.

Midfielder Valon Behrami is sidelined by a thigh injury, while defender Christian Kabasele has a hip problem.

Ben Watson (groin), Roberto Pereyra and Mauro Zarate (both knee) all continue their rehabilitation. 

John O'Shea is in line to retain his place for Sunderland despite returning from international duty with stitches in a leg wound.

Republic of Ireland defender O'Shea was hurt in a challenge by Wales striker Gareth Bale but was able to train back on Wearside on Thursday, and he could be joined in the team by Lamine Kone, who has shaken off a knee problem.

Midfielder Lee Cattermole is desperate to resume action after more than six months on the sidelines with a hip cartilage problem, as is striker Victor Anichebe (knee), but the game could come too soon for both.

Steven Pienaar (calf), Jan Kirchhoff, Paddy McNair and Duncan Watmore (all knee) are still out.

Teams

Watford (from): Gomes, Kaboul, Britos, Prodl, Cathcart, Janmaat, Niang, Capoue, Doucoure, Cleverley, Deeney, Pantilimon, Amrabat, Success, Zuniga, Holebas, Okaka, Stewart. 

Sunderland (from): Pickford, Mannone, Jones, Manquillo, Denayer, Oviedo, Love, O'Shea, Kone, Djilobodji, Lescott, Ndong, Gibson, Larsson, Borini, Januzaj, Khazri, Gooch, Honeyman, Defoe, Maja. 

Watford v Sunderland: Our prediction 

Our David John writes... Fair play to a devastated captain Troy Deeney for fronting up to the media after his mis-directed header handed Crystal Palace all three points last time but these are slightly worrying times at Vicarage Road.

That was a third defeat from four matches and there will be a few around the club shifting a little uneasily in their seats unless Walter Mazzarri can rally the troops as some improved form from those below them has cut the deficit in the standings.

It was a typically scrappy affair against Palace in the circumstances at this time of year so perhaps the break for the internationals could have come at the right time for the Hornets as they try to regroup and freshen up. 

Sunderland’s need for points is even more pressing as they sit rooted to the foot of the table and seven points from safety.

To my eye, they did not look like a team in such a dire predicament in the 0-0 stalemate against Burnley as they displayed plenty of craft and endeavour but could not force the ball over the line and get their noses in front. 

It just about sums up how the season has gone for David Moyes but there remains time to launch an 11th-hour recovery operation and the possibility of getting Lee Cattermole and Victor Anichebe back from long-term injury issues soon – possibly even here – will be a handy boost.

There is talent in the ranks on both sides who have the ability to lift this above a scrappy slugfest but a share of the spoils seems a reasonable conclusion to come to with little to split the pair. 

Prediction: Watford 1-1 Sunderland  

Watford v Sunderland: Opta facts 

Watford have won just one of their previous five Premier League meetings with Sunderland (D1 L3). 

The Black Cats haven’t lost an away game against Watford in any competition since January 1999, drawing each of the last three (W1). 

Sunderland have only failed to score in three of their previous 37 league meetings with Watford. 

Jermain Defoe has scored against 35 different teams in the Premier League, but is yet to score against Watford in the competition (four apps, no goals). 

On the day of this game, Sunderland will have spent 210/231 days in the relegation zone of the Premier League in 2016-17 (91%). 138 of these days have seen them bottom of the league (60%). 

Only Sunderland (31) have used more players in the Premier League this season than Watford (30 – level with Crystal Palace). o David Moyes’ side have failed to find the net in seven of their last 11 Premier League away games. 

If Watford win this match, they’ll already equal their best tally of Premier League home wins in a single Premier League season (six; set in 2015-16). 

Sunderland have allowed their opponents 97 more shots on target than they have attempted themselves in the Premier League this season (179 v 82); the biggest disparity in the big five European leagues in 2016-17 so far. 

Sunderland have scored just two goals in the opening 30 minutes of Premier League matches this season (a league-low). In comparison, Watford have netted nine in this period, with a joint-league high eight coming in the opening 15 minutes.     

Watford v Sunderland: Sky Bet odds

Sunderland are bottom of the standings and are 100/30 with Sky Bet for three points to help boost any survival prospects at Vicarage Road. They have won just one game since the middle of December (at Crystal Palace) by that other success did come against this rival and a repeat of the 1-0 scoreline in their favour is a 10/1 chance. The hosts have slumped a little and have gone four games since the start of February without a win – they are 17/20 to get back on track with three points and a draw can be backed at 12/5.  

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