It feels like a must-win game for both Blackburn Rovers and Watford heading into their clash at Ewood Park with both sides sitting adrift of the playoff spots ahead of 2024 and with a lot of work to do.
Blackburn are heading into this game level on points with Watford but with a terrible goals difference record of -4 after letting in four from a 4-0 loss to Southampton last weekend. This also keeps the Lancashire outfit five points adrift of the playoff spots and with an astonishing 11 wins on the board already, despite winning the same amount as fifth-placed West Bromwich Albion - only those in the bottom three have suffered more defeats this season.
Form has been incredibly topsy-turvy for Blackburn so far with them managing to pick up a theme of losing a game and winning the next. In fact, since the end of October, they have gone on to beat Millwall away from home before losing to Swansea City at home and then going on a winning run of two games before losing again, winning once more, losing again and rinsing and repeating that run.
As for Watford, they come into this game with the same amount of points as Blackburn but up in ninth due to their superior goals difference record. The Hornets smashed Preston North End 5-1 last time out with Vajoun Issouf Bayo scoring a goal in either half before Matheus Martins, Edo Kayembe and Ismael Kone all scored a goal each.
Watford did lose to Ipswich Town before that to dampen their playoff hopes, but a draw with Southampton and wins over Hull City and Norwich City has given fans further positives of another battle for a spot in the playoffs this season. However, Watford remain quite inconsistent and have now won eight games, drawn seven and lost seven.
It's doubtful we'll see Blackburn keep a clean sheet after doing so only three times this season. What's more, the odds of them to win at 5/4 at home and Watford at 2/1 as the away side all but sums up how close this game could be.