Watford have slipped back into the relegation zone after consecutive Premier League defeats, having escaped the bottom three for just two match weeks this season. At the weekend they face Brighton and Hove Albion, and Nigel Pearson must make some tactical tweaks to avoid a repeat of their previous two matches. In both of those games against Aston Villa and Everton, the Hornets surrendered a lead late on in either the first or second half and to ensure that does not occur again at Brighton, Pearson must make his side more compact defensively.
At Villa Park, an agonising 95th minute winner from Tyrone Mings meant the Hornets suffered defeat under Pearson for only the second time. Meanwhile, two Yerry Mina goals in added time in the first half against Everton saw Watford squander their two-goal lead. To combat Watford’s late defensive frailties, Pearson should consider switching to a 4-4-2 or diamond variant of the formation, which drops to two banks of four out of possession. The low block would be challenging for Brighton to break down, as the Seagulls tend to dominate possession, having recorded the sixth-highest average possession in the Premier League this season, with 54.2 per cent.
Furthermore, the tactical tweak would see Troy Deeney move closer to Gerard Deulofeu, and the pairs’ complementary skill sets could see the Englishman could hold up or flick balls onto the considerably faster Spaniard. This alteration could give Brighton serious issues on the counter-attack and create some clear-cut opportunities for the Hornets without diminishing their ability to keep a clean sheet.
It is doubtful whether record signing Ismaila Sarr will be fit to start the crunch relegation fixture due to a thigh injury. However, Pearson would not need to make a personnel alteration to tweak his formation, Etienne Capoue could slot in at the base of a diamond midfield, with Nathaniel Chalobah and Roberto Pereyra sitting in front. Abdoulaye Doucoure has been a revelation in a more attacking role since Pearson’s introduction and would head the engine room.
If Watford can beat Brighton at the weekend, they will drag the south coast side further into the relegation mix, leaving both clubs level on 26 points. Therefore, it is vital that Pearson can get his team back on track and amongst the points once again.
