Bournemouth and Watford were two of the favourites for promotion – Why is there such a big difference in the table?

Bournemouth and Watford were both relegated from the Premier League last season.

The sides managed to keep their key players in the squad over the summer but have since endured different fortunes after 32 games of the Championship season.

Going into tomorrow’s clash at the Vitality Stadium, the Hornets are 11 points clear of the Cherries and are right in the mix for an instant return to the top flight, level on points with Brentford who currently occupy the second automatic promotion place.

Jonathan Woodgate has recently taken over until the end of the season on a full-time basis with the aim very much still on promotion. Although having been overtaken by Cardiff City, who they lost to on Tuesday evening, they have lost all hope of automatic promotion and must now focus on trying to secure a play-off place in the final 14 games.

The Cherries’ form has been particuarly alarming, winning just two of their last ten in the league which as a result has seen the club slip out of the top six for the first time this season, albeit only on goal difference.

Captain Steve Cook has been in and around the club for several years and has seen it all, but he said in his post-match press conference following the defeat to Cardiff City on Wednesday evening that he knows the club haven’t been at their best all season.

“It’s very difficult for me to sit here and say that we’ve been anywhere near our potential this season,” captain Cook explained.

“We’ve been poor all round. We’re probably lucky to be still level with the play-off positions with the amount of games we’ve lost and given away.

“But the only positive thing I can say is we’ve got 14 games left and we’re still in there. We’ve got big games coming up, big games at home. Can we turn it around? 100 per cent.”

The contrast couldn’t be further apart for Watford as the Hornets have won four league games on the bounce which has propelled them to within striking distance of the top two in the division.

Much like Bournemouth, they largely managed to keep hold of many of their key players although Abdoulaye Doucouré and Craig Dawson (loan) departed for the Premier League to Everton and West Ham respectively and are both having fine seasons since leaving Vicarage Road.

One of the bedrocks of Watford’s strong form throughout the season has been their defensive shape and have remained tight defensively, only conceding just 23 goals so far, the fewest in the division.

They boast the second most clean sheets in the league with Ben Foster having picked up nine before an injury, while his replacement Daniel Bachmann has also had six in the ten games he has featured in.

Many clubs who come up from the Championship rely on one player to get them the goals and assists, but it’s been a different story for the Hertfordshire club as Troy Deeney, João Pedro and Ismaila Sarr have all scored at least seven and it will be a massive challenge for Woodgate’s men to stop them tomorrow.

The main difference between the two sides seems to be consistency, Bournemouth are constantly chopping and changing their line ups, particuarly in defensive areas. On the other hand, Watford have been a settled side and are really buying into what Xisco Munoz wants, he himself only came in to the club in December last year.

It’s vital for Bournemouth to pick up three points in this clash but it’s one of the toughest assignments in the division. Three points would ensure, for a few hours at least, the Cherries will move into fifth in the table.

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