West Ham VS Watford: The Inside Track on the Hornets

West Ham welcome Watford to the London Stadium ahead of a massive six-pointer at the bottom end of the Premier League table.

On Saturday West Ham had thought they took a major step towards Premier League safety. The 4-0 victory over Norwich gave the Hammers a seven-point gap from the bottom three. This only lasted a day as Bournemouth and Aston Villa won their respective games.

To get a greater understanding of the Hammer’s relegation rivals, I spoke to one of Watford’s biggest fans and Creator and Host of Stairway to Seventh podcast Andy Lewers (Twitter: @AndyLewers) to get the ‘Inside Track‘ on the Hornets.

1. What’s been the biggest factor to Watford’s poor season?

I don’t think our poor season can be attributed to one single factor. I think it starts with recruitment; last season we saw Watford reach an FA Cup Final and almost qualify for Europe via the league, for me last Summer was the time for the owners to back Javi Gracia in the transfer window and really push on.

We didn’t do that and as a result, have an ageing squad with a defence that has been severely neglected for a number of transfer windows now. In addition to this, the confidence never seemed to be there in the squad from the start, perhaps it was a hangover from that drubbing against Man City in the cup final and thanks to the poor start to the season.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but bringing Quique Sanchez Flores back could turn out to be a catastrophic error, as Troy Deeney put it “we wasted ten games on nostalgia” – who knows where we would be if brought Pearson in at that time instead of Flores.

2. How has Nigel Pearson done since he got the job?

Hard to argue against anything other than Pearson doing an incredible job. When he came in we were rock bottom with nine points, six from safety and with people writing us off already.

If you had told me that with three games to go we’d be in 17th three points above the relegation zone I wouldn’t have believed you. He came in with the simple instruction of keeping this club in the Premier League and he’s desperately close to achieving it.

3. Who do you think will go down?

The wins for Villa and Bournemouth against Palace and Leicester respectively have made me a little more uncomfortable than I would perhaps like to be at this stage. But, I think the sides they are facing in their final three games will be too strong, so it will stay as it is. Norwich, Villa, Bournemouth.

4. Who is Watford’s danger-man/men going into the West Ham match?

In the absence of Gerard Deulofeu, Ismaila Sarr has lit up this Watford squad with his blistering pace and skill. He almost single-handedly tore Liverpool apart shortly before the Lockdown.

Watford’s Senegalese midfielder Ismaila Sarr (C) celebrates after he scores the team’s first goal during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Liverpool at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on February 29, 2020. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

If Watford can get him on the ball and if he can start delivering more accurate crosses into the box then Watford will have a good chance of getting something from the London Stadium.

5. What do you make of West Ham’s season?

I think it’s been very similar to Watford’s in many respects. A team that has arguably not been invested properly in for a number of transfer windows and managerial issues leading to changes in the dugouts.

These problems facilitated by some key players who have perhaps underperformed this season all culminating into a squad that has underachieved this season. Now they are desperate just for the season to end so we can just press reset and start again.

6. West Ham won the reverse fixture 1-3 at Vicarage Road, who will win this one?

I honestly can’t call it, a win for either side would near enough confirm safety whereas defeat would mean it going down to the wire. Dare I say a draw may even be enough? I’m classing this as ‘must not lose’,

But I’ll stick my neck on the line and say the back to back wins for Watford will give them enough confidence to grind out an ugly win…1-0 to the ‘Orns.

dark. Next. West Ham’s Arthur Masuaku should be considered for huge Watford clash

The match on Friday evening is crucial for all of the teams still in the relegation battle. Bournemouth and Aston Villa will be fixing their eyes on the game like hawks. Whoever wins the match between West Ham and Watford, will most likely be safe from the drop and the loser will be left looking over their shoulder.