Match Pack: Derby County

Match Info

Fixture: Derby County v Watford
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Venue: Pride Park
Time: Saturday January 18, 3pm
Strip: Yellow home kit

Officials

Referee: Adam Herczeg
Assistant Referees: Robert Hyde & Matthew McGrath
Fourth Official: Andy Davies

Team News

Imrân Louza will be assessed before kick-off for the Hornets, but Tom Dele-Bashiru remains available.

Full Watford team news can be read HERE.

For Derby, Liverpool loanee defender Nat Phillips could miss out after being replaced at half-time in the FA Cup against Leyton Orient on Tuesday.

Corey Blackett-Taylor and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing also went off against the O's, while Eiran Cashin and Jerry Yates are in line to return.

On-loan Crystal Palace man David Ozoh is a long-term absentee.

What Are They Saying?

“For me, they have progressed a lot from the last time we played them, so it will be a very tough test.”

Tom Cleverley, Watford Head Coach

“I'm happy to talk about the elephant in the room; we're not in the best form. I know we didn't lose the other night at Leyton Orient, we lost on penalties after a draw, but we're not in the best form and there's no way that I can positively spin that.”

Paul Warne, Derby County Head Coach

Golden Flashback

Alex Kacaniklic assisted both goals - the first for Sean Murray and the second for Troy Deeney - when the Hornets won 2-1 at Pride Park in March 2012.

Stat Attack

2 - Watford are looking to win on successive Football League trips to Derby for only the second time, previously doing so in January 1994.

2.6 - Only Leeds United’s (2.9) and Middlesbrough’s (2.7) weekend games (Fri/Sat/Sun) are averaging more goals in the Championship this season than Watford’s (2.6 – 47 in 18).

3 -Watford have drawn three of their last five away league games (L2), as many points in that time as in their previous seven such games (W1 L6).

6 - Derby County have lost each of their last three league games, last losing more in a row back in May 2021 under Wayne Rooney (6).

9 - Since the start of November, Watford’s Vakoun Bayo has scored more Championship goals than any other player, with nine of his 10 goals this season coming in that time.

12 - Watford have won each of their last three league games against Derby County, as many victories as across their prior 12 meetings with the Rams combined between 2009 and 2015 (D1 L8).

15 - Derby County have lost just three of their last 15 home league games against Watford (D4 L8), scoring 2.1 goals per game over that period.

17 - No side has both scored and conceded in more different Championship games this season than Watford, with the Hornets doing so in each of their last eight league games.

48 - Derby County’s Ebou Adams has conceded the most fouls in the Championship so far this season.

74 - Seventy-four per cent of Derby’s Championship points this season have come in home games (20/27), with the Rams winning two of their last three league games on home soil (L1).

Player In Focus - Jerry Yates

Age: 28

Total appearances for Derby County: 23

Goals this season: 6

Minutes per goal: 315

Shot accuracy: 60 per cent

Assists this season: 2

Successful passes: 222

Key passes: 14

Minutes played this season: 1892

Offsides this season: 18

Live Blog

Not heading to Pride Park?

You can follow all the build-up, action and immediate post-match reaction with our live blog, which will be available on the Watford FC website and app from 1.30pm.

Get Your Gear!

You can now benefit from 25 per cent off training and travel wear at The Hornets Shop, until January 27.

Alternatively, click on the links to order the 2024/25 home, away, third or goalkeeper shirt, complete with the name and number of your favourite player.

Get Your Pass!

Find out HERE how you can follow the clash on the club’s new iFollow service.