Middlesbrough Aims to Reclaim Championship Lead Against Watford
Middlesbrough will look to rebound from their recent defeat and maintain their position at the top of the Championship standings as they take on Watford on Saturday at 15:00 GMT.
The Hornets achieved a crucial 1-0 victory over Lincoln on Tuesday, marking their second consecutive home win. This success adds to their tally of four victories in the last seven games at Vicarage Road, where they have accumulated 13 of their total 14 points this season.
On the other hand, Middlesbrough suffered a 2-0 loss to Wrexham on Wednesday, narrowing their lead at the top to just one point and bringing an end to an impressive 11-game unbeaten streak. Despite this setback, they secured 11 points from their previous five away matches, although their record at Watford has not been favorable in recent times.
Recent statistics show that Watford has triumphed in three of their last four league encounters against Middlesbrough, although they faced a heavy defeat in their last meeting, losing 5-1 in April.
Historically, Middlesbrough has struggled at Watford, losing eight of their last 11 away league matches against the Hornets, with only two victories and one draw. They currently face the prospect of a third consecutive defeat at this venue for the first time.
Since early September, no team in the Championship has endured more losses than Watford, who have racked up eight defeats. However, all three of their wins during this stretch have come at home, including their last two matches at Vicarage Road.
In an interesting note, Riley McGree recorded his first Football League brace at Vicarage Road against Watford, scoring twice in under 12 minutes back in September 2023. Meanwhile, Amin Nabizada has emerged as Watford’s leading scorer this season with three goals, which is notably lower than the top scorers of other teams in the competition.
