📏 Form Guide

Watford

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Watford head into this match following a 2-2 Championship drawn match versus Preston North End.

In that match, Watford managed 49% possession and 20 attempts at goal with 5 of them on target. The scorer for Watford was Othmane Maamma (55'). Preston North End got 8 attempts on goal with 3 of them on target. Lewis Dobbin (19'), Odel Offiah (57' Own goal) and Milutin Osmajić (70') scored for Preston North End.

It has been a rare occasion in recent games where Watford have shown defensive steel. The reality is that Watford have seen their defence breached in 5 of their previous 6 games, leaking 7 goals in the process.

Pre-game facts show that Watford:

• haven't lost in the league to Derby County in their previous 6 games.
• have not won at home in their last 3 league matches.

Derby County

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Derby County come into this clash after a 2-0 Championship win with the defeat of Swansea City in their most recent game.

In that game, Derby County managed 29% possession and 11 attempts at goal with 6 of them on target. For Derby County, the goals were scored by Rhian Brewster (47') and Patrick Agyemang (67'). For their opponents, Swansea City had 15 shots at goal with 2 on target.

A sequence of dependable performances from the Derby County defensive players has seen their ‘goals against’ tally amounting to 4 from their last 6 outings combined. In that period, the number of goals that they have scored themselves amounts to 12. That trend isn’t assured to be sustained into this game, however.

Looking at their past form shows that Derby County:

• have not beaten Watford when they've played them away from home in the last 2 matches in the league.
• are unbeaten in their previous 3 away league matches.

↔️ Head to head

Checking on past results between these clubs stretching back to 03/04/2015 tells us that these encounters have been a source of anguish for Derby County. They have not been able to come away with any victories at all whereas Watford have managed to find a way, beating them in 83 per cent of those ties.

A combined sum of 18 goals were shared by the two clubs throughout the course of those matches, with 12 from The Hornets and 6 belonging to The Rams. The average number of goals per game works out to 3.

The previous league meeting between these sides was Championship match day 16 on 22/11/2025 when it ended Derby County 2-3 Watford.

That day, Derby County managed 38% possession and 9 shots on goal with 2 on target. The scorers were Dion Sanderson (36') and Sondre Langås (54').

For their opponents, Watford had 14 attempts at goal with 4 of them on target. Luca Kjerrumgaard (61') and Edo Kayembe (85', 88') scored.

The match was refereed by Gavin Ward.

ℹ️ Team News: Watford

It looks as if The Hornets will possibly use the 4-2-3-1 system for this one featuring Egil Selvik, Jeremy Ngakia, James Abankwah, Saba Goglichidze, Stephen Mfuni, Nampalys Mendy, Edo Kayembe, Nestory Irankunda, Imran Louza, Othmane Maamma and Luca Kjerrumgaard.

🗞️ Team News: Derby County

It’s our belief that The Rams could decide to utilise a 4-2-3-1 lineup, starting Josh Vickers, Joe Ward, Dion Sanderson, Matthew Clarke, Callum Elder, David Ozoh, Lewis Travis, Ben Brereton Diaz, Sammie Szmodics, Rhian Brewster and Patrick Agyemang.

🧠 Prediction

We’re thinking that Derby County will likely be able to get a goal against this Watford side, although that might not quite prevent them from conceding a couple at the other end.

We can see a very close game with a 2-1 advantage for Watford by the conclusion of the game. Could easily see this go either way.

Victor Martins, 14:06 21/02/2026