Watford host AFC Bournemouth in the Championship on Saturday in a 12:30pm kick-off at Vicarage Road.

It should be an interesting encounter between these two sides which were relegated from the Premier League last season.

Is Watford v Bournemouth on TV?

The game is being shown live in play with Bet365.

Watford play Blackburn in the Wednesday kickoff Picture Credit © Josh Hooper/123rf

It will be an interesting battle between two sides who were relegated from the Premier League last season and are widely fancied for an instant return to England’s top-flight.

Watford sit a point and a place ahead of their forthcoming opponents in third position, with the 3-1 win against Blackburn Rovers in midweek doubling their goals scored tally for the season so far.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, are one of only two remaining unbeaten sides in the division alongside Reading, winning three and drawing three of their opening six matches.

The bookmakers envisage an even match, with the hosts 5/4 to win, the draw 9/4 and a Bournemouth win 23/10.

Both sides have switched to a back five under new managers this season, making them much tougher to score against than they were in the Premier League last season.

Indeed, Watford have conceded just twice, with Bournemouth also shipping less than a goal per game (five).

I’d agree with the bookmakers here in that it’s difficult to pick an obvious winner between two of the stronger sides in the division, making a draw seem the most likely outcome. 1-1 can be backed at 11/2 with Bet Victor, with Joao Pedro and Dominic Solanke the most likely goalscorers for either side.

Pedro can be backed at 23/10, with Solanke 11/4 (both Betfair).

Ismaila Sarr started in Watford’s midweek win and should he do so again, Diego Rico could be in for a tough time to the left of Bournemouth’s back three.

Like his opposing manager Jason Tindall, Vladimir Ivic operates with a 5-3-2 formation for Watford, meaning Sarr is more central than in his debut campaign. He’ll still generally drift towards the right flank, though, with Rico picking up a booking at 3/1 (Unibet) good value given he has already picked up two in four starts.

Adam Smith is an injury doubt for this match, but should he make it then 7/2 (Betfair) is also a good price for him to be carded with him starting on that side of the pitch and never shying away from a tackle.

Etienne Capoue made his first appearance of the season from the bench against Blackburn and could be in line to receive his first start. Him and Jefferson Lerma were two of the most prolific yellow card receivers during their time in the Premier League, receiving 45 between them in the previous two seasons, and the double pays 8/1 (bet365).

Should Capoue be left on the bench again, replacing him with Nathaniel Chalobah increases the double to 14/1 (bet365).

The former Chelsea midfielder has been booked twice this season and is incredibly making 3.7 fouls per game, which is more than any player in the entire division.

Alternatively, replacing Lerma, who has been more restrained at this level albeit without yet facing a side as strong as Watford, with his midfield partner Dan Gosling makes it 22/1.