Friday night’s Championship match sees Plymouth hosting Watford at Home Park. The hosts have won just one of their last five in the league but on home turf have lost just once so far this campaign. Watford have won three of their last five in the league, but their away from leaves a lot to be desired.
Paddy’s EFL tipster James O’Rourke has dug into the player market to find four picks for a Bet Builder, so, let’s get his Plymouth v Watford betting tips.
Plymouth v Watford Bet Builder tips
Adam Randell to have 1+ more shots on target
Morgan Whittaker to be fouled 2+ times
Mattie Pollock to commit 1+ fouls
Vakoun Bayo to be fouled 1+ times
- A bet builder with these bets pays at approximately 10/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
WHEN: Friday, 22nd November, 8pm
WHERE: Home Park, Plymouth
TV: Sky Sports Football, Main Event
Adam Randell to have 1+ more shots on target
Adam Randell made a quicker-than-expected return from injury in the Derby match prior to the international break. Manager Wayne Rooney was certainly glad that was the case as it was Randell’s free kick goal that ensured Argyle left Pride Park with a handy and much-needed point away from home.
Rooney has spoken glowingly about the impact he can have in the final third, and he will surely net more goals in the coming weeks.
The central midfielder has now recorded a shot on target in each of his last two club appearances and also in three of his previous five for Plymouth. Despite missing some games of late because of injury, he is still ranked very high amongst the squad in various attacking statistical categories. The 24-year-old is ranked third at the club in both number of shots and number of shots on target in league action this season.
Plymouth are the joint third-lowest scorers in the Championship and only Swansea have failed to score in more league games this season. Therefore, they need more goal threat from other areas outside of their usual attackers. Randell has certainly stepped up and has clearly been given more license to get forward under Rooney. Only in one home appearance this season has he not had a shot in a match, so he is a player that should thrive and want to impress under the lights at Home Park.
Morgan Whittaker to be fouled 2+ times
Ever since Morgan Whittaker signed for Plymouth, initially on loan in 2022 and then permanently in 2023, he has been a vital player for them. His nine goals scored while on loan from Swansea was enough to convince the club to part with a club-record fee, and a fine decision that was.
Last season he fired in 19 league goals, which was 32.2% of Plymouth’s overall league goals scored, to play a major part in them avoiding relegation. Although three goals in 14 league appearances this season will leave him a bit underwhelmed, he is still their main attacking threat.
The former Derby County winger has only failed to have a minimum of two shots in just one match this season in any competition. He demands the ball, is very direct and his sole thought is to get shots way and try to score goals. Opposing teams know this as well, and clearly tactics are implanted to try and keep him quiet.
This should be no different when Watford visit Home Park on Friday night. Across his 15 overall appearances this season, Whittaker has been fouled a total of 29 times. This works out as an average of 1.93 fouls per game. However, over his last four, this average jumps to 2.75.
It’s worth noting, too, that Whittaker is the joint ninth-highest, most fouled player in the Championship.
Mattie Pollock to commit 1+ fouls
Mattie Pollock has started every one of Watford’s Championship fixtures this season. He dipped his toe into the first-team scene last season, but since Tom Cleverley took charge, he has become a key member of the starting eleven.
The Hornets’ back line has been regularly changed this season due to injuries and lack of form, but the one constant has been Pollock. He very rarely gets taken off as well, meaning extended minutes would increase his chances of more specific involvements over the 90 minutes. Producing fouls is one such involvement.
Although Pollock did not commit such an offence against Oxford, when Watford was last in action before the international break, this did stop a lengthy run of him doing so. The centre back was on an eight-match sequence, making a minimum of one foul in the match.
In fact, his average fouls made in that period were 1.375 per game. Therefore, he clearly has recent form in the book regarding perhaps being a little rash in certain situations.
Remember, this is really his first season at Championship level of playing week in and week out, so he is learning on the job to a degree. Even so, he remains their strongest defender, so there is a confidence about him that trusts his own ability and will, therefore, always back himself in duels. That, in turn, may be his downfall in relation to making a foul or two per match.
Vakoun Bayo to be fouled 1+ times
One player that has rather sharply returned to form recently is Watford striker Vakoun Bayo.
The Ivory Coast international was on a nine-match goalless streak for the club over September and October, but then there was a massive turning point. Cleverley would then hand him a starting role for the trip to Sheffield Wednesday on 2nd November. His 88 minutes on the Hillsborough pitch proved more than fruitful as he would net an incredible four goals in a 6-2 victory.
Following on from this, he fired in the only goal in the home win over Oxford in their last match, plus he scored for his country earlier in the week versus Chad. Out of nowhere, Bayo is on fire and simply cannot be left out of the team at present. The on-loan Udinese man has, therefore, made some headlines for himself of late, and opposing teams will have taken notice.
The 27-year-old has been on the receiving end of a foul in four of his last five appearances for Watford. With his team playing away on Friday, there are likely to be moments when they counter attack, which is often a popular way for opponents to make a foul to stop attacks from extending further.
Utilising his pace, it would be no shock if this happened. Even if via other routes, the fact he has form in the book suggests he is simply a tricky customer who can force opposing players into panic mode.
Watford are in strong form recently and have a striker in form, so he should see plenty of the ball, which naturally increases the chances of him being fouled.
Plymouth v Watford betting tips
Adam Randell to have 1+ more shots on target
Morgan Whittaker to be fouled 2+ times
Mattie Pollock to commit 1+ fouls
Vakoun Bayo to be fouled 1+ times
- A bet builder with these bets pays at approximately 10/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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