Fulham v Watford: Bank on home win by the Thames

Kit Symons has Fulham moving up the Championship with his sights now on the play-off battle

Two sides going in opposite directions meet in Friday night's appetising live Championship game and Andy Tongue says that sticking with the in-form outfit should pay dividends...

Fulham v Watford
Friday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 1

Fulham

The Cottagers form since Kit Symons took over from Felix Magath stands against any side in the Championship and their fans are asking where their side might be had the Welshman been in charge since August: in or just outside of the top six is the pretty obvious answer.

However, their luck could be in this season as the second tier is even more competitive than usual with nobody able to pull clear of the pack and if Fulham can keep their current form up they will be on the verge of those play-off places by the turn of the year.

Last week's win at Brighton will have given Symons' side huge confidence being their first of the season away from home and at Craven Cottage, where they have four wins and a draw from their last five, they will be confident of beating anyone in the league right now.

Hugo Rodallega's goal at the Amex Stadium was the third consecutive game he'd found the net and his eighth of the season. After a slow start and not even being a regular selection under the mystifying Magath he's found his feet and is too powerful for most defences at this level.

Watford

In comparison to their hosts, the Hornets come here on a terrible run, having lost their last four straight games. Admittedly they've faced in-form Ipswich and Birmingham as well as table toppers Derby in that run but one win from seven has seen them slip down to eighth place. And that victory was a slightly fortuitous home win over struggling Millwall.

However, they will feel they were unlucky at home to Cardiff last Saturday, creating more than 20 chances but not being able to score as they lost 1-0.

Despite bringing in Sebastien Bassong on-loan from Norwich to try and add a bit of resolve to their preferred defensive trio, they have looked vulnerable at the back in recent weeks.

There's certainly no shortage of attacking ability at Vicarage Road, which makes the recent return of just two goals in four games a bit of a mystery. The talents of Mattej Vydra, Troy Deeney and Fernando Forestieri have recently been supplemented by the signing of Adlene Guedioura on-loan from Crystal Palace. Slavisa Jokanovic might give Guedioura a first start after he came off the bench last week.

Match Odds

The Championship is such an even division with very little separating the majority of the teams that taking a strong position in the Match Odds market is always a bit of a risky strategy. However, this looks a classic case of a side on the up and full of confidence meeting one who are in the middle of a bit of a wobble.

Given that you have to think Fulham are well worth backing at a juicy 2.3411/8, especially given their fine form on their own patch since Symons took charge.

The Hornets defence struggled to cope with Cardiff's long balls to Keneywne Jones at Vicarage Road last Saturday and they can expect more of the same here with Rodallega very much of the same ilk. Fulham aren't afraid to get the ball played forward early to utilise his powerful and direct approach alongside Ross McCormack and Brian Ruiz in a strong front three.

With some fans already calling for Jokanovic to be sacked and a fifth manager of the season installed at Vicarage Road clearly all is not well around the club and this looks a tough trip to a side where the feel-good factor has definitely returned. That makes the home win the recommended best bet here.

Match Odds/Both Teams to Score

Despite a shortage of goals in the last few weeks, Watford are still the third highest scorers in the Championship and looking at their attacking options you feel they have plenty of goals in them.

I can certainly see them getting on the scoresheet here but looking at Fulham's experienced and talented frontline you can see the visitors' back three having a tough night in store. The stats also support this outcome - the home side have scored at least twice in each of their last eight games in all competitions, while Watford have found the net in five of their last six on the road.

That means backing Fulham to win and both teams to score looks a very good punt for those who like to chance their arm in this popular market. You can get 3.814/5 on this outcome over on the Sportsbook.

Recommended Bets
Back Fulham to beat Watford at 2.3411/8 *Best Bet
Back Fulham in the Match Odds/Both Teams to Score market at 3.814/5 at Betfair Sportsbook

2014/15 P/L

Staked: 65 pts
Returned: 72.74 pts
P/L: + 7.26 pts

*2pts best bet if stated
1pt other recommended bets