Preview: Wolves v Watford – same again?

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers previews the clash.

Preamble

Play Watford at home with the chance to move closer to the Champions League places and possibly go five points ahead of Manchester United? Just another Saturday for Wolves these days.

Packed houses every week, setting Premier League records, beating top quality opposition in the most watched league on the planet...it's all becoming the norm for Nuno Espirito Santo's team.

As Southampton were for Wolves' last home game, the visitors this weekend are 4/1 long shots to win at Molineux despite being ninth in the table.

Wolves are a team in real form – only Arsenal have won more points in the past six games. That form has been based on an extremely solid defence, which has only conceded twice in those six matches; only the top three – Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool – have conceded fewer goals this season.

Nuno Espirito Santo knows, though, that his team still need to find a clinical touch at the other end. They have no problem creating chances, but putting them away has been an issue. Solve that and they'll surely hand out a spanking sooner or later.

Will Watford be on the receiving end? They lost 4-0 at home to Bournemouth last time out to continue a poor run of form which has seen them slide down the table after four consecutive wins to kick the campaign off.

Like Southampton, Javi Gracia's Watford are expected to play 4-4-2 and will try and stop the hosts from playing. They possess players in Troy Deeney, (Wolverhampton-born) Andre Gray and Roberto Pereyra who can hurt Wolves, but if Nuno's team get it right at both ends of the pitch, on current form there are few teams who look capable of holding them.

Yep, just another 'normal' Saturday awaits.

The opposition

Nathan Judah spoke with Watford Observer reporter Harry Gray to get the lowdown on the Hornets.

Team news

Wolves should have a clean bill of health unless any of their international players picked up a knock.

Ten first-team players were called up by their countries – Helder Costa and Jonny Castro Otto made their debuts for Portugal and Spain respectively, while Matt Doherty was handed his first starts for the Republic of Ireland.

If Nuno names an unchanged side Wolves will extend a Premier League record for fielding the same starting XI at the beginning of a Premier League season to nine matches.

Ruben Vinagre and Morgan Gibbs-White have swapped places on the bench in the past two games, while £12m Belgium international Leander Dendoncker will hope to be involved in a Premier League squad for the first time.

Watford are missing Christian Kabasele and Jose Holebas through suspension. Kabasele was sent off in the 4-0 home defeat to Bournemouth two weeks ago while left-back Holebas picked up his fifth booking of the season in the same game. Adrian Mariappa and Adam Masina are expected to deputise.

New England international Nathaniel Chalobah faces a late fitness test on a knee problem.

Likely line ups

Wolves (3-4-3): Patricio; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Otto; Costa, Jimenez, Jota. Subs: Ruddy, Hause, Saiss, Gibbs-White, Cavaleiro, Traore, Bonatini.

Watford (4-4-2): Foster; Femenia, Cathcart, Mariappa, Masina; Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Pereyra; Gray, Deeney.

Key players

Wolves – Diogo Jota

There's plenty of debate over whether Jota should keep his place in the XI – he's struggling for form and looks short of confidence. If he plays, the Portuguese youngster can look to exploit weakened Watford defence shorn of two first-choice defenders in Kabasele and Holebas.

Watford – Troy Deeney

Watford's talisman who has been with the club for eight years since a switch from Walsall. Has netted 107 times for the Hornets in 317 league appearances, including twice in four games against Wolves. Enjoying a traditional 'front two' partnership with ex-Wolves youngster Andre Gray this season.

The bosses

Nuno Espirito Santo: "We don’t change, we go game by game. The next goal is to compete in the next game at home. We don’t set any targets, we just focus on the next game."

Javi Gracia: "I think Wolves are playing really well. We know it'll be a tough game but in this moment for us it's not important who we are going to play against, it's more important to focus on ourselves and to try and do our best."

Form

Wolves WWLDW

Oct 6: Crystal Palace 0 Wolves 1 (Doherty, 56)

Sep 29: Wolves 2 (Cavaleiro 79, Otto 87) Southampton 0

Sep 25: Wolves 0 Leicester City 0 (1-3 on pens) *Carabao Cup

Sep 22: Manchester United 1 ( Fred 17) Wolves 1 (Moutinho 53)

Sep 16: Wolves 1 (Jimenez 61) Burnley 0

Watford LLLDL

Oct 6: Watford 0 Bournemouth 4 (Brooks 14, King 33 pen, 45, Wilson 47)

Sep 29: Arsenal 2 (Cathcart OG 81, Ozil 83) Watford 0

Sep 26: Tottenham Hotspur 2 (Alli pen 82, Lamela 86) Watford 2 (Success 46, Capoue 89) (4-2 on pens) *Carabao Cup

Sep 22: Fulham 1 (Mitrovic 78) Watford 1 (Gray 2)

Sep 15: Watford 1 (Gray 65) Manchester United 2 (Lukaku 35, Smalling 38)

Past five meetings

Mar 7, 2015 (Ch): Wolves 2 (Afobe 14, Price 50) Watford 2 (Vydra 30, Deeney 65)

Dec 26, 2014 (Ch): Watford 0 Wolves 1 (Dicko 57)

Mar 1, 2013 (Ch): Wolves 1 (Sako 90) Watford 1 (Abdi 41)

Nov 12, 2012 (Ch): Watford 2 (Chalobah 35, Deeney 68) Wolves 1 (Sako 54)

Jan 31, 2009 (Ch): Wolves 3 (Ebanks-Blake 23, Keogh 67, Vokes 90) Watford 1 (Mariappa 81)

Referee

Lee Mason (Lancashire)

Mason's last Wolves game came way back in 2012 for a dire 0-0 Premier League draw at home to Everton.

He sent off Watford's Christian Kabasele during their recent defeat on penalties to Spurs in the Carabao Cup.

Match odds

Wolves 3/4, draw 13/5, Watford 4/1