Against All Odds: Hornets to be stung by The Owls

Will Zola be in the hot seat at Stamford Bridge next season?

Watford are odds-on for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday in the English Championship tonight and despite being six unbeaten, Paul Robinson thinks they have to be opposed.

Watford are having a fine campaign under Gianfranco Zola. The Italian has been aided by the loan system as he has many players on loan from Udinese due to the two clubs alliance. Nevertheless, it's still an impressive achievement to have his side up in third place, just two points off automatic promotion, with only 11 games to go.

The Hornets come into this match undefeated in six home and away and having picked up 10 points from their last 12 available at Vicarage Road. In that recent spell at home they have beaten teams who are poor travellers, as Huddersfield, Bolton and Derby have all been weak on the road this term. They did draw with Crystal Palace, but before that they were beaten by Charlton and Hull, so they are hardly impregnable in front of their own fans.

Sheffield Wednesday had been in fine form prior to the 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the weekend. Forest have been revitalised under Billy Davies though so I'm willing to forgive them that one. The Owls were undefeated in their previous half dozen, including victories over Brighton and Palace, which helped give them some breathing space from the relegation zone.

Dave Jones is an experienced manager at this level and the former Cardiff boss will know exactly what it takes to keep his team in the division. They have really stepped things up of late, especially on the road as Wednesday are six without loss, winning four and drawing two.

The Championship is a very unpredictable league so odds-on shots should always be treated with caution. This is a prime example of that to me as even though it's third v 20th, recent form dictates that the odds should be a lot closer. That's why with Watford trading as low as 1.728/11 I have to make them my lay of the day. 

Recommended Bet
Lay Watford v Sheff Wed @ 1.728/11

2013 P/L (1pt each bet)

Wagered: 63 pts
Returned: 57.82 pts
P/L – 5.18 pts (after commission)
(2012 P/L: + 9.60 pts)