This Week's Opposition: Watford

Learn more about The Hornets ahead of Wednesday night's Championship meeting at Fratton Park.

Marlon Pack’s injury time goal was not enough for Pompey to secure a point at Portman Road last time out.

Up next, the Blues are going under the floodlights for the first time in the league this season as they take on Watford in PO4.

MANAGER

Paulo Pezzolano is in charge of The Hornets.

The Uruguayan retired from football at the age of 33 after spending his final playing season with Torque. Immediately after retiring, he became manager of Torque for the following season.

He has also managed the likes of Liverpool Montevideo, Liga MX side Pachuca, Brazilian Série B side Cruzeiro and Real Valladolid.

Whilst manager of Real Valladolid, he suffered relegation and achieved promotion back to the top-tier the following season. Following a 5-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid last year, the club announced that he would not continue as manager.

Pezzolano was unveiled as head coach of Watford on the 13th of May.

ONE TO WATCH

Moroccan international Imran Louza is our one to watch.

Louza came through Nante’s youth academy in France, making his first team debut and scoring his first senior goal in the same game back in 2019.

The midfielder signed for Watford in June 2021 on a 5-year-deal.

On October the 8th 2022, in Louza’s 3rd appearance of the season, he opened his account for Watford with an impressive free-kick against Blackpool.

In the second half of last season, Louza was loaned out to Ligue 1 club FC Lorient, where he made 14 appearances and scored once.

So far this campaign, the number 10 has managed 1 goal and 2 assists, with both a goal and an assist claimed in The Hornets’ most recent fixture against Hull City.

TOP SCORER

Watford currently have 2 top goalscorers, both on 2 league goals this season.

Udinese loanee Luca Kjerrumgaard is one of them, he started his professional career at OB in Denmark, where he was loaned out twice before signing for Udinese this summer. He was immediately loaned out to Watford this season with an obligation to sign permanently. The 6ft 6 striker wears the number 9 shirt.

19-year-old Nestory Irankunda also has 2 goals and 1 assist to his name. The Australian international began his senior career with A League side Adelaide United. He then went on to play for Bayern Munich’s B team before being loaned out to Grasshopper last season. Irankunda wears the number 66 and signed a 5-year-deal with The Hornets this summer.

CURRENT FORM

Paulo Pezzolano’s side occupy the bottom half of the table at this stage of the season, recently leapfrogging the Blues on goal difference.

Sitting in 16th, they have accumulated 8 points with 2 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats with their previous game ending in a 2-1 victory over Hull City at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

The last time these sides met at Fratton, it was the Blues who were victorious by a goal to nil - Colby Bishop with the only goal of the game back in April to confirm Portsmouth’s safety in the Championship.

Can the Blues find some form at home and get a much-needed win under the lights?

Find out by joining Jake Smith, Kirsty Roxanne and James Wilson on Express FM's Pompey Live from 7pm on Wednesday (October 1st) evening. The trio will be providing full match coverage LIVE from Fratton Park with Andy Moon and Guy Whittingham from BBC Radio Solent offering the commentary service.

Kick-off: 7:45pm!