Saturday 30 September, 15:00 BST
A defensive conundrum for Pulis
The Baggies had started the campaign well enough as they opened up with three successive wins in league and cup. They have however gone five without a victory since, although they are still unbeaten at home in the league.
Tony Pulis and his players were unhappy with the officiating in their 2-0 defeat at The Emirates on Monday night, and while they didn't exactly get the rub of the green, The Gunners were definitely value for the three points.
The manager opted to play a 5-3-2 formation against Arsenal, but he will probably revert to a flat back four on Saturday. At the other end, Jay Rodriguez was signed to try and improve the team's goal tally, and while he has looked lively in his six Premier League starts, he's managed just the solitary goal.
The road is paved with gold for Silva
The way this season has gone for Watford thus far, makes you believe that the alternate universe Marco Silva was appointed as manager. A man who had once gone 41 home games without defeat - a run which span across four different clubs - has lost two and drawn two at Vicarage Road, while winning all three of his matches on the road.
Victories at Bournemouth, Southampton and Swansea were impressive in their own right, but when you consider that they only won three times on their travels in the whole of last season, it makes you realise just what kind of achievement that is.
Of course the manager will be slightly concerned about their results at home, but they drew against Liverpool and Brighton, and their sole defeat in the Premier League came at the hands of the rampant Manchester City.
As for the team news, Miguel Britos is back following his three game ban, but the impressive, Nathaniel Chalobah, is set for a long spell on the sidelines. Andre Gray should keep his place in attack after he opened his Watford account last time out, and that means that Troy Deeney will likely remain on the bench.
Pick a score rather than a winner
The Match Odds Market has West Brom priced up as the 2.34 favourites, with the draw at 3.25 and Watford at 3.70. The latter feels like a decent price considering their away record this term, but there is no denying that Chalobah is a big miss - even if he was absent for their 2-1 win at The Liberty last weekend.
The hosts have taken five points from a possible nine in front of their own fans this season and when they do lose at home, it's usually against one of the top teams.
This is the kind of game where I'm happy to give this market a swerve and focus on a correct score. I can't see there being much in it, and while I could just back the draw at 3.25, I'd much rather play on something at a bigger price.
For reasons that will become apparent further down the page, I'm going to take a punt on a 2-2 correct score at around the 20.00 mark. As I wrote above, it should be a pretty tight match and I have an inkling that there will be goals...
More goals than you think
When you think of a Tony Pulis side, you think of strong defending and a focus on clean sheets as opposed to goals of their own. There's nothing wrong with that, but sometimes his reputation precedes him.
In the league last year, his West Brom team scored three or more in six of their 18 home matches, and perhaps even more surprising, they kept just four clean sheets.
I appreciate that they have already stopped their opponents from finding the net in two of their three there this year, and they have scored just two goals themselves in the same period, but that is a much smaller sample size.
The pressure is mounting on this West Brom side following their disastrous end to the previous campaign as the supporters won't have forgotten just how poor they were. They need to start showing a bit more pretty quickly or the fans will make their voices heard.
A more attacking approach will suit the visitors down to the ground as Silva's men will look to hit on the break. They scored twice in each of their three away victories, and they put three past Liverpool on the opening Saturday.
Over 2.5 Goals can be backed at 2.54 and that is definitely a value selection for my money. The under makes no appeal at [1,61], although I'm sure it will prove popular in many an Acca this weekend.
Ref Watch - Please Sir, can I have one more?
The man in the middle for this potential goal-fest is Michael Oliver and he comes into the game on a hat-trick - a hat-trick of red cards that is. He sent off David Luiz in Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Arsenal and he then dismissed Serge Aurier at The London Stadium last week - both for bad tackles.
He also showed five or more yellows in those games, so keep your eye on the card odds as the markets begin to firm up nearer to kick off - there could be value to be had in backing a sending off or a high amount of bookings points.
It also helps that both of these teams have already had a man sent off this season, and the hosts are averaging two yellows per game.
Recommended Bets
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.54
Back A 2-2 Correct Score @ 20.00
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