Bristol City and Watford meet in the Championship at Ashton Gate on Friday night and both teams are looking for a pick-me-up following some disappointing results.
Robins boss Michael Skubala lamented a lack of quality in the final third after seeing his former side Lincoln City take all three points from their trip to Bristol on Tuesday.
Opposite number Alessio Dionisi made some worrying noises about tiredness in his squad following their home defeat to Stoke City last weekend, but the Hornets do have a solid record at Ashton Gate and may take something back to Hertfordshire.
Bristol City v Watford Tips Summary
Best Bet - Draw @ 29/10
Alternative Bet - Lorent Tolaj to score first @ 15/4
Bet Builder - Under 4 goals, Over 3 cards, Lorent Tolaj 2+ shots on target & Amin Nabizada 1+ shots on target @ 9/1
Bristol City v Watford Prediction
Best Bet: Draw @ 29/10
It is fair to say rival bosses Skubala and Dionisi were less than inspired by the most recent efforts from their teams.
Skubala led Lincoln to the League One title last season and then promptly left for Bristol.
The Imps handed his side a third Championship defeat in seven games on Tuesday and their former boss was left to suggest that "it just feels like we're conceding too easy and we're not scoring enough".
Watford started the season by beating promotion contenders Southampton at Vicarage Road, but have won just one of seven games in league and cup since.
They followed a midweek win over Preston North End at Vicarage Road with defeat to Stoke at the same venue four days later.
Italian boss Dionisi is in his first season in the Championship and worryingly is starting to contemplate the hectic schedule already, as he suggested: "My players were tired from the start."
The Hornets have lost just one of the last five Championship meetings between these sides and City's lack of attacking threat was evident in midweek, so these two teams may cancel each other out and settle for a point apiece.
Alternative Bet: Lorent Tolaj to score first @ 15/4
Any joy the hosts are to have may come from Swiss forward Lorent Tolaj. His 17 goals for Plymouth Argyle in League One last season secured a summer move to Ashton Gate.
He looked sharp in pre-season and has two goals and an assist in his last five outings as he gets to grips with the Championship.
Tolaj came close to breaking the deadlock against Lincoln in midweek, seeing a header come back off the crossbar, while he also shot wide from a good position inside the 18-yard box in the first half.
Bristol City v Watford Bet Builder Tip
Under 4 goals
Over 3 cards
Lorent Tolaj 2+ shots on target
Amin Nabizada 1+ shots on target
Pays 9/1
Each of the last five Championship meetings between these clubs have produced three goals or fewer.
City's three home league games this season have yielded just six goals, while Watford have conceded only nine times in seven games and none of their Championship games have gone over 3.5 goals.
Watford have collected 12 yellow cards in their last five games, with City landing five in their defeats to Southampton and Lincoln. Four or more cautions is forecast here.
Tolaj is the main source of danger for the Robins. He has enjoyed shots on target in three of his last four games and can get a couple here after trying his luck three times in the loss against Lincoln.
Teenager Amin Nabizada has three goals and an assist for Watford so far this season.
He came off the bench to score against Stoke and could earn a starting spot behind the frontman in Dionisi's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. He, too, can land a shot on target.
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Key Match Stats
Watford have lost just one of the last five Championship meetings with Bristol City
A 1-0 loss at home to promoted Lincoln City on Tuesday made it successive defeats for the Robins
Watford have picked up just one win in seven games in league and cup since beating Southampton
The Hornets have conceded nine goals in seven Championship games - only seven of the 24 second tier clubs have leaked fewer goals
Both teams have scored in the last four league and cup meetings between these two sides at Ashton Gate
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
