Derby County are back on the road this weekend.
Derby County go into this next round of Championship fixtures on the back of consecutive wins at Pride Park.
The Rams beat Chesterfield in the Carabao Cup, then claiming an impressive 1-0 win vs Middlesbrough in the Championship.
Paul Warne’s side have their first points on the board in this 2024/25 season but go up against a strong-looking Watford side this weekend.
The Hornets have won all their games so far this season; wins against Millwall and Stoke City in the Championship, and a 5-0 win vs MK Dons in the Carabao Cup.
Tom Cleverley’s side look like an early surprise package in the Championship this season and are one of only three teams to have won their opening two games; Burnley and Sunderland are the others.
Derby County last played the Hornets in 2021, losing 2-1 at Vicarage Road, with the Rams’ last win away at Watford being in 2014 with Jordon Ibe and Craig Bryson scoring for Derby, and with Matej Vydra playing for Watford.
Sam Parkin drops Watford vs Derby County score prediction
Speaking on the Championship Check-In podcast ahead of the weekend, EFL pundit Sam Parkin gave his score prediction for the game between Watford and Derby County.
Parkin said: “Derby County were very fortunate in that victory. They’ll be feeling a hell of a lot better on the training ground, a hell of a lot more confident.
“Paul Warne will be feeling that any early season doubts and pressure have been lifted with that solitary goal win.
“But I think Watford have got more creativity and probably more goals, and I think Watford are going to go three for three.”
Parkin predicted a 2-0 Watford win.
Watford have more attacking prowess than Derby County, one Rams player will be key
Like Parkin says, Watford certainly seem to have a lot of firepower this season, having scored three goals in each of their two Championship games this season, and 11 in their opening three in all competitions.
But Warne has some formidable defensive players who can help to stem the threat of Watford’s attack, and none may be more important than Eiran Cashin.
The Irish centre-back has looked a little shaky at times this season, but he’ll come into this game well-rested after being withdrawn early in the last game vs Middlesbrough.
He’ll want to put in a good performance and assert his Championship quality, and there might be no better team to do that against right now than Tom Cleverley’s Watford.