Preview: Watford v Owls

Wednesday wrap up their three game spell in a week with a trip to in-form Watford in front of the Sky TV cameras.

The Owls have endured mixed fortunes from their last two games, with a disappointing home defeat against Preston, despite a good performance, coming hot on the heels of Saturday's 2-0 win against Coventry City.

But Wednesdayites will have no doubt swayed closer to the six point margin than three points from the three matches, meaning victory in tonight's clash with the Hornets is a must.

It'll be a tough ask though, with the pre-season relegation candidates hitting some decent form of late, with victory at Middlesbrough at the weekend followed up by a 1-1 stalemate at Ipswich Town in midweek.

Owls boss Brian Laws told the official SWFC website:

'We were going to go for maximum points this week and probably deserved three points against Preston, not even the Preston manager denied that.

'It is a great incentive for us that we can go there and overtake them and catapult us up the league.'

He continued: 'Their home record isn't great, there is a perfect opportunity for us. It is going to be a frantic game, both teams are going to go for it, we have got to go for it, we need a win.'

Watford boss Malky Mackay told the official Watford website:

'We've come off the back of two good results this week and we want to build on that tonight.

'Although we have a young squad, they are a group of players who are resilient and who have shown a great deal of courage recently, travelling to two difficult away grounds and coming away with four points out of six, so I'm delighted with that.

'But the minute you start thinking about the fact we're playing in front of the television cameras, then that's the minute where you'll have problems on the pitch.'

Watforfd boss Mackay has confirmed that captain Jay DeMerit and returning striker Heidar Helguson are both almost certain to miss out in tonight's clash, two key players for the Hornets.

DeMerit is recovering from an eye operation while former Fulham striker Helguson is expected to return to training early next week.

Wednesday will be wary on on-loan Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley, who's expected to get the nod to start tonight despite picking up a knock at Ipswich in midweek.

The Manchester United loanee is at the heart of many of Watford's attacking threats and Laws will have been happy to see him miss out tonight. Instead, he's likely to start, and will give the Owls midfield a tough time of it. A success on loan at Leicester City last season, Cleverley has been key for the Hornets this term.

Wednesday boss Brian Laws is hoping to have a triple boost ahead of tonight's clash.

Laws will be looking at the fitness of recently sidelined trio Marcus Tudgay, Richard Wood and Etienne Esajas with the hope that they'll be fit enough to feature at Vicarage Road.

Darren Purse will make his 500th professional career appearance tonight if given the nod to start, although Woody will be pushing for a starting place if fully fit.

Laws has no fresh injury concerns following the defeat to PNE in midweek.

The goals have dried up recently for the on-loan Derby County man, and what better place to find the back of the net than in front of the Sky TV cameras? A big game for him tonight, no doubt about it.

Head-to-Head:

Watford wins: 17

Wednesday wins: 13

Draws: 9

Last Time Out:

Watford 2-2 Wednesday

Vicarage Road, 14/03/09

Francis Jeffers rescued a share of the spoils for Wednesday with a 90th minute penalty in a 2-2 draw last season. Marcus Tudgay had given the Owls a 20th minute lead before an unfortunate Mark Beevers own goal and Job McAnuff strike turned the game on its head prior to Jeffers' late leveller.

Bristol City (A) - 31/10/09

Q.P.R. (H) - 7/11/09

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