Aston Villa will expect to beat a Watford side adrift in the relegation zone and without a win in 11 matches. Roy Hodgson’s side have also rather alarmingly failed to score in their past four matches, the last three of which Hodgson has presided over. No new manager bounce to speak of, then, but Ismaïla Sarr’s rest after the Africa Cup of Nations and his hoped-for return to the starting lineup may give Villa’s Emiliano Martínez a challenge. Villa have been inconsistent all season and Steven Gerrard will surely want them to flex their superior quality to pick up a much-needed win. They are unlikely to drop as low as a fight to save their season but Villa should be aiming higher than current form has them. Graham Searles
Saturday 3pm
Venue Villa Park
Last season n/a
Referee Robert Jones
This season G7 Y21 R0 3 cards/game
Odds H 11-17 A 5-1 D 3-1
ASTON VILLA
Subs from Steer, Sinisalo, Carney Chukwuemeka, Archer, Young, Smith, Olsen, Hause, Bailey, Trezeguet, Douglas Luiz
Doubtful None
Injured Traoré (hamstring, 26 Feb), Nakamba (knee, Apr)
Suspended Konsa (last of two)
Discipline Y51 R2
Form LLDWDL
Leading scorers Ramsey, Watkins 5
WATFORD
Subs from Elliot, Bachmann, Fletcher, Gosling, Hernández, Pedro, Kabasele, Rose, Sema, Sierralta, Louza, Masina, Ngakia, Troost-Ekong, Baah, Etebo, Kalu, Kucka
Doubtful Etebo (hamstring)
Injured Nkoulou (hamstring, Mar)
Suspended None
Discipline Y42 R2
Form LDLDLL
Leading scorer Dennis 8
