The statistics suggest there are unlikely to be many goals when Watford welcome Stoke City to Vicarage Road in the Premier League on Saturday.
Team news
Watford striker Odion Ighalo, who has a muscle problem, is one of “three or four” players set to undergo late fitness tests, according to Quique Sanchez Flores. Miguel Britos and Joel Ekstrand definitely miss out.
Stoke, meanwhile, are once again without Ryan Shawcross due to another back problem suffered against Southampton last weekend, while Xherdan Shaqiri has been ruled out with a thigh injury sustained in the same game.
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| Odion Ighalo is unfit |
A late decision will be made on Erik Pieters, who has been nursing a calf complaint, but Phil Bardsley, out recently with a similar problem, should be able to return. The chances of a Charlie Adam return is unclear, with an Under-21s run-out leaving him with some groin soreness.
Stats
- There have been just eight goals scored in the last seven league meetings between Watford and Stoke City – and just two in the last three meetings at Vicarage Road.
- Stoke City have failed to score in their last six league matches against Watford.
- There have been just 25 goals netted at Vicarage Road, fewer than at any other Premier League stadium this season.
- There have been just 10 goals scored in the last eight Premier League matches involving Watford.
- Only Manchester United (9) have kept more clean sheets at home this season than Watford (8) in the Premier League.
- Stoke have gone six Premier League games away from home without a clean sheet, conceding 13 goals in that run.
- Watford have won just two of their last 12 Premier League matches (W2 D3 L7).
- The Hornets have failed to score in seven of their last nine top flight games.
- Watford have recovered just two points after falling behind in the Premier League this season, fewer than any other team in the top division.
- Only Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez’s goals have won their side more points this season in the Premier League (18 points) than Watford’s Odion Ighalo (15) and Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic (12).
