This clash features the two surprise names currently placed in the top-half of the table with ninth-placed West Brom spurning the chance to move into the top-six after failing to put Hull away. They return to the Hawthorns where they’ve had mixed results thus far (W2-D2-L2); putting four past two poor travelling sides this season in West Ham and Burnley, whilst netting just twice in the remaining four fixtures. Although the Albion have only lost two of their last nine, they look short to us at 2.2 given they’ve won just two of their last 10 at home and that Watford sit one place above them in the table.
Having said that, the Hornets were unrecognisable in their defeat at home to Stoke from the side that beat Man Utd earlier this season and had won three of their previous five games. Their away form has also been mixed (W2-D2-L2), and since returning to the Premier League they’ve won just eight of 25 on the road, with each of these against bottom-half sides. One could argue that Tony Pulis’ men are likely to be down there come May, but in what looks a close game a solid option when the Baggies are involved is often the half-time draw.
13 of West Brom’s last 18 home matches have been level at the break, including 10 of 14 against sides outside the top-six. Moreover, it’s occurred in half of Watford’s away games this season.
Best Bet: Half-time Draw at 2.00
