Watford-Sheffield Wed. England - Championship 08/09 Prediction 14.03 16:00

Freebetting.net Tip: Draw, Odds 3.35
Watford’s form is on the uptrend and leading them towards survival but they will have to do without three of their key players in this match. Sheffield Wednesday failed to win in Preston so they are not too enthusiastic before this game. It seems as both sides would settle for a point…

Hornets found way to rise
Watford regained form and continued the good run with a tough 2:1 win over Nottingham Forest. Already in the first action Hornets opened the score through Gregorz Rasiak but Forest managed to level the score. Still, inspired Tamas Priskin helped Watford take 2:1 lead just before the break, having scored his seventh goal in the last eight matches. The visitors failed to make a serious threat in the second half so home side successfully held on till the end and took three new points.

Manager Brendan Rogers did a good job at Vicarage Road since he came from Chelsea reserve squad. He is picking the fruits of his work lately so Hornets have now recorded six wins in the last eight games and they are moving farther away from the relegation zone. A problem in this match might be the fact that key players are injured. Strikers Tommy Smith and Gregorz Rasiak midfielder and team captain Jay DeMerit. That is why Will Hoskins will partner inspired Priskin up front.

Owls losing battle for late play-off push
Sheffield Wednesday didn’t have luck in Preston. Owls had the lead in the tough match in Lancashire after Francis Jeffers scored 30 minutes into the game. Preston managed to level the score in the very finish of the match thus saving a precious point in the play-offs contention while Wednesday lost the way that lead to the same.

Owls are dangerous against any rivals lately but they didn’t have luck with the results and they were left nailed to the midtable without the realistic chance to break into top six. The atmosphere in the team after losing two points in Preston seems shaky and the same line-up that faced Preston will play against Watford. Leon Clarke is still injured while striker Akpo Sodje will again get a chance from the bench.

Betting verdict
It is hard to tell that Watford are the favourites considering the situation in Sheffield squad as Hornets too will play without three key players. We expect an open and ruthless game where both sides might settle for a point. Priskin is a good scorer but he has no one to assist him while no one in visiting squad will have inspiration for attacking after the shock in Preston. A minimum stake on the draw could pay off.

Bettingexpert.com Tip: Watford , Odds 2.14
I think Preston´s late equalizer killed Wednesday dreams and figting spirit: they can´t make it to the play-offs this season. So the main question today is: how hard they can push against Watford?

Watford find the rythm in the end of January and they have six wins from last eight league games. But they still are not safe and when they got a good run going, why that could not carry on here also? Imo these two sides are quite equal, when you think about quality between these two squads. Wednesday have four points more, thanks to Watford´s awful autumn-season, but Hornets are getting closer all the time.
I see Hornets definitely favorites in this and odds over 2.05 includes value.

Bettingzone Tip: Draw, Odds 3.30
Brendan Rodgers is making excellent progress in his first managerial post at Watford and it's no surprise that the Hornets are becoming very fashionable with punters following a run of six wins in the last eight matches.

The former Chelsea reserve-team boss is impressing everyone who comes into contact with his articulate briefings and insightful player analysis, so much so that a nice little sideline in television punditry seems inevitable further down the line.

However, the affable Ulsterman is more than just a spin doctor if Watford's recent performances are anything to go by because he's obviously earning his corn by offering some unique pearls of wisdom on the training ground.

Indeed, it's tempting to side with the Hornets for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

The Owls have been a dangerous proposition in recent weeks but results haven't gone their way and manager Brian Laws all but surrendered in his quest to reach the play-offs following the concession of an harsh injury-time equaliser in a dominant display at Preston in midweek.

So the mood in the Wednesday camp is a little downbeat and it could result in a flat performance at Vicarage Road but odds of 6/5 about the home win aren't quite big enough to set the pulse racing, particularly with Tommy Smith and Grzegorz Rasiak likely to be sidelined.

Instead, it could pay to back Tamas Priskin to score anytime at 21/10 with Paddy Power.

The Hungarian striker has bagged seven in his last nine appearances on the back of some private one-to-one tuition with his manager who insists he possesses as much quality in front of goal as anyone he worked with at Stamford Bridge.

That confidence in the 22-year-old is beginning to pay off and you only have to look back at some of Priskin's finishing over the past few weeks to understand what Rodgers is on about.

Elsewhere, Derby continue to make good progress under Nigel Clough and the 12/5 available on Derby (draw no bet) at Sheffield United is well worth an interest.

The Rams have tasted defeat only once in their last eight league matches, despite coming up against some of the form teams in the Championship, and they could have some joy against a side who have persistently struggled for form in front of their own fans this season.

Kevin Blackwell's men might be setting club records on the road but the midweek stalemate with struggling Blackpool merely confirmed the suspicion that they remain unconvincing at Bramall Lane.

Indeed, the Blades were lucky not to lose against Tony Parkes' men when striker DJ Campbell was sent clean through to put the visitors 3-1 ahead midway through the second half, but United survived that scare and then forced an equaliser from the spot moments later.

The Yorkshire club are refusing to give up on the automatic promotion race but their closer proximity to seventh place is more likely to be dictating the mindset and wins for Burnley, Swansea and Bristol City in midweek won't have gone unnoticed.

So another nervy afternoon could be on the cards and Derby are playing with enough freedom and confidence to take advantage.

That said, a draw would be considered a good result for the visitors as they look to keep their good sequence ticking along, so it's best to keep the stalemate onside and anything above 9/4 on the 'draw no bet' market is more than acceptable.