Post by Golden_Boy™ on Nov 28, 2006 11:44:15 GMT -1
Watford could be without Hameur Bouazza who is struggling with a bruised ankle.
The striker looks set to join knee-injury victims Ben Foster and Marlon King as well as defender Clarke Carlisle (thigh) on the sidelines.
Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock has a few injury worries but has not named who the afflicted arem, wating until Tuesday before delivering his verdicts.
Striker Danny Webber comes into contention after missing the last two matches with a hamstring strain.
Watford star Malky Mackay:
"It's always going to be a big game, against a team that are around us. These games have got to be about picking up three points.
"We know United will come and make life difficult for us, they will want three points so we have to start well, with a good attitude."
"They won at ours last year and we won at theirs. It should be interesting."
Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock:
"If we don't score more then we don't stand a cat in hell's chance of staying up.
"But we can do it and we will do it.
"I can't fault my lads' character and I'm sure that will come through."
Watford (from): Lee, Chamberlain, Doyley, Shittu, DeMerit, Stewart, Mackay, Powell, Mariappa, Smith, Mahon, Francis, Young, Chambers, Spring, McNamee, Bangura, Jarrett, Henderson, Priskin.
Sheff Utd (from): Kenny, Bennett, Davis, Morgan, Short, Bromby, Webber, Leigertwood, Kozluk, Jagielka, Gillespie, A Quinn, Hulse, Nade, Kazim-Richards, Montgomery, Law, Geary, Kabba.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
WATFORD and fellow promoted Sheffield United have both lost their last two Premiership matches, and find themselves in the bottom three going into this midweek clash at Vicarage Road - their 25th League meeting. Only a clear five goal victory would be sufficient to lift the Blades out of the relegation zone, and would at the same time consign their opponents to the foot of the table.
Whoever scores the third goal in this, Watford's 2,700th post war League match, will be netting the 300th goal of this Premiership campaign.
All previous League meetings between Watford and Sheffield United have been at second League level. When they met in the Championship last season, United won 2-3 at Vicarage Road, and the Hornets prevailed 1-4 at Bramall Lane.
SHEFFIELD UNITED have the poorest attack in the highest League, with just eight goals scored in 14 outings. But they are facing the side who've found wins more difficult to come by than any other top flight club, with just one on the board (home to Middlesbrough).
Neil Warnock's side have an abysmal away record. A 0-1 success over Newcastle is their only victory on the road, and just one of two wins secured so far in the top tier home and away. They've scored just one goal on their Premiership travels and conceded nine.
The Yorkshire club are hoping to extend their unbeaten record at Vicarage Road into a fourth League game. Their last three visits have resulted in win, draw, win.
REFEREE
Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire)
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
WATFORD
Highest achievable: 18th
Lowest could fall: 20th
1. Followed the defeat on penalties to Newcastle in the Carling Cup with a 4-0 reverse at Chelsea, and 2-1 loss at Portsmouth.
2. Notched 100 top flight victories.
3. Four short of conceding 100 goals in their Premier League history.
4. Undefeated in four home League games. Drawn three and won one, since suffering their only home League loss this term (1-2 to Manchester United on 26 August).
5. A trip to Manchester City next Monday follows this, before a home clash with the other promoted club, Reading.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 16th
Lowest could fall: 19th
1. Only beaten opposition from the north west so far - home to Middlesbrough, and away to Newcastle.
2. Failed to score in eight Premiership games to date - only Manchester City match that.
3. Gone in at half time leading in only one Premiership match (against Middlesbrough).
4. Kept three clean sheets in this Premiership campaign (won one, drawn two).
5. This is the Blades' 99th Premier League match in their history, and they are chasing a 25th win.
6. Used more players in Premiership matches this season than any other club - with the exception of Aston Villa. Both have fielded 25.
7. Another bottom of the table six pointer follows this in the first of successive home fixtures, against Charlton (on Saturday) and Aston Villa.
KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
WATFORD
Ashley YOUNG is Watford's top scorer with four goals.
YOUNG is also the only remaining player who's been on the field for every minute of every one of Watford's Premiership matches.
If he plays, Jordan STEWART will be making his 50th career Premiership appearance (Leicester and Watford).
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Rob HULSE is Sheffield United's top scorer with four goals.
HULSE, Keith GILLESPIE, Paul JAGIELKA, Colin KAZIM-RICHARDS and Danny WEBBER are the only players to have scored in the Premiership for the Blades so far this term.
Only JAGIELKA has played every minute of every one of Sheffield United's Premiership matches this season.
Paul IFILL is one goal shy of 50 in his League career (Millwall and Sheffield United).
If he gets a run out, Chris ARMSTRONG will be making his 150th career League appearance (Bury, Oldham, Sheffield United and Blackpool).
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
Home and away
League: Watford 7 wins, Sheff United 9, Draws 8
Prem: Watford 0 wins, Sheff United 0, Draws 0
at Watford only
League: Watford 3 wins, Sheff United 5, Draws 4
Prem: Watford 0 wins, Sheff United 0, Draws 0