Sky Sports' David Prutton has predicted a share of the spoils when Stoke City host Watford in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Whilst Michael O'Neill's men currently sit 8th in the second-tier standings, the Potters have won only once in their previous nine league matches, and have fallen five points off the top-six places.

Stoke might have only been defeated twice during that period, but the goals have dried up for O'Neill's team, although they did manage a dramatic 3-3 draw at Rotherham United in midweek.

 

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If the Potters want to be considered as genuine play-off contenders, these are exactly the type of games they need to be winning - especially knowing a defeat will see them fall nine points behind the Hornets.

Meanwhile, Watford are heading in the right direction under Xisco, and their two successive wins has not strengthened their place in the top-six, but ignited their automatic promotion hopes.

But Prutton expects their winning run to come to an end at the Bet365 Stadium. He told Sky Sports:

"It's five without a win for Stoke, now. They have just started to drift away from the battle for the top six a little and need to start picking up victories again soon. Goals had been a problem until their midweek game, but even then they could only manage to draw 3-3 with Rotherham!

"If Watford could sort out their form on the road, where they have picked up just two wins all season, they would be right up there with Norwich. Right now it looks like their battling with a few others for second place. Taking everything into consideration, I think this will be a draw."

The Verdict

This is an really interesting battle.

Stoke are difficult to beat, but it's not quite happening at present for them, and I can definitely see the points being shared.

Watford have improved with two straight wins, but their form on the road is wretched - with just two victories from their 11 fixtures, and I can't see that getting any better here.