West Ham United will arrive at Vicarage Road under pressure to secure their first Championship victory of the season, but recent history suggests Watford have been particularly favourable opponents for the Hammers.
West Ham have won each of their last five meetings with Watford, scoring 15 goals and conceding only four across a run stretching back to May 2019. TNT Sports confirms Watford have recorded no victories across those five encounters.
That record offers Nuno Espírito Santo some encouragement before Saturday’s 3pm kick-off, even if his side cannot afford to rely on history alone.
West Ham have dominated recent Watford meetings
The sequence began with a convincing 4-1 West Ham victory at Vicarage Road on the final day of the 2018/19 Premier League season.
The Hammers then won 3-1 away from home in August 2019 before recording another 3-1 victory when the clubs met at London Stadium the following July.
Watford’s return to the Premier League did little to change the pattern.
West Ham travelled to Vicarage Road in December 2021 and came away with another 4-1 victory, before completing the double with a 1-0 home success in February 2022.
Saturday will therefore be the first meeting between the clubs for more than four years.
It will also take place in very different circumstances.
Both teams are now competing in the Championship, with West Ham trying to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
Nuno needs history to repeat itself
The Hammers’ league campaign has not started as Nuno would have wanted.
West Ham drew 2-2 away to Burnley before suffering a 2-1 home defeat against Charlton Athletic, leaving them with one point from their opening two Championship fixtures.
There was a considerably more encouraging performance in midweek.
Nuno’s side responded by beating Southampton 4-1 in the Carabao Cup, with several fringe and academy players making a strong case for further involvement.
Lewis Orford is among those pushing for a league opportunity, and our predicted West Ham XI against Watford looks at the selection decisions facing Nuno.
West Ham also have several fitness concerns ahead of the fixture, with the latest team news before the Watford clash available here.
Watford represent a different challenge this time
Watford have started the Championship season better than West Ham.
The Hornets beat Southampton 2-1 at Vicarage Road before drawing 1-1 away to Wrexham, meaning they remain unbeaten after their opening two league fixtures.
Their midweek result was much less convincing, however, with a much-changed Watford side suffering a 5-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Peterborough United.
West Ham should therefore travel with confidence after their own cup performance.
Five consecutive victories over Watford will count for little once Saturday’s match begins, but the record shows this has been a fixture West Ham have repeatedly handled well.
Nuno could certainly do with that trend continuing as he searches for his first league victory of the campaign.
Supporters can find Watford v West Ham TV, kick-off and live coverage information here.
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