Watford vs Oxford United | Match Preview

Vicarage Road | Saturday 4 October, 3:00pm

The U's make the short trip to Hertfordshire to take on Watford, hoping to build on the strong performance away to QPR on Wednesday evening.

Form Guide - Snapshot

• Oxford United: W1 D3 L1 from the previous five games. Given the strength of the opposition in their last five matches, U's fans have every reason to feel encouraged by both the performances and results. Wednesday evening saw the team secure their first clean sheet of the season—an impressive feat against a side that had found the net in every game up to that point.
• Watford: W1 D2 L2 in their last five. After defeating Hull in their last home outing and earning a valuable point away to Portsmouth in midweek, the Hornets also have every reason to feel optimistic heading into the weekend. A win would provide a significant boost, helping to pull them further clear of the relegation zone.

The Rivalry - A Quick Head-to-Head Check

Meetings between the two sides have been a rarity in the 21st century, with just three encounters over the past 25 years. Last season, both teams secured narrow 1-0 home victories in this fixture.

In total, the clubs have faced each other 41 times since their first meeting in November 1965, with the U's avoiding defeat in 56% of those matches.

The Connections - Worn Both Badges

• David Bardsley: Best known for his time at Queens Park Rangers, where he made 131 Premier League appearances in the early 1990s, David Bardsley also featured for both clubs in focus today. The right-sided defender made 114 appearances for Watford between 1983 and 1988, before moving to Oxford United, where he spent two seasons. During his time with the U’s, Bardsley wore the yellow and blue 42 times, finding the net twice.
• Jerome Sinclair: Formerly on the books at Liverpool, Jerome Sinclair had spells with several clubs during his career, including Wigan, Birmingham, and Watford. After joining the Hornets in 2016, Sinclair made just 14 appearances across all competitions, scoring once. He later joined the Yellows on loan in January 2019, where he made a more notable impact, netting four goals in 16 appearances.
• Josh McEachran: A product of the Chelsea academy, McEachran had a brief loan spell at Watford in 2013 during the early stages of his career, alongside several other short-term stints. He made a permanent move to Brentford in 2015, where he began to establish himself at senior level. In 2023, McEachran joined the U’s, making 24 league appearances as part of the squad that secured promotion to the Championship. He now plies his trade with Bristol Rovers.

The Hornets' Nest: A Closer Look at Watford’s Shape and Strategy

1) Watford have made Vicarage Road a tough place to visit this season, losing just once in their four home games so far. Under new head coach Paulo Pezzolano, who succeeded Tom Cleverley in the summer, the Hornets have adopted a high-intensity style built on aggressive attacking play and relentless pressing. The Uruguayan has quickly instilled a clear identity, with his side feeding off the energy of their home support.

2) 19-year-old striker Nestory Irankunda has made a positive start to life at the club following his move from Bayern Munich in the summer. The Australian international has registered two goals and an assist so far this season and carries a great threat with his dynamic dribbling and explosive pace. 

3) Watford have adopted a fluid 4-3-3 system this season, which shifts into a compact 4-1-4-1 shape when out of possession. Off the ball, their focus is on aggressive pressing and maintaining tight distances between players, particularly by crowding the central areas to disrupt the opposition’s build-up play.

4) Both the Hornets and the U’s share an average shooting distance of 18.1 yards this season — the joint fourth-highest in the league — highlighting their willingness to take shots from range.

Imran Louza: The Hornets’ Tactical Talisman

The Moroccan international has hit a rich vein of form, finding the net in back-to-back games against Portsmouth and Hull. Operating primarily in the number 10 role, the attacking midfielder has been a constant creative threat, linking play and posing a goal-scoring danger in the final third. Louza stands out as Watford’s key orchestrator and it’s easy to see why he’s the man to watch. 

Technically gifted and tactically intelligent, he brings a calming presence on the ball, often dictating the tempo of the game with his sharp passing and vision. Beyond his playmaking, Louza contributes defensively with smart positioning and a strong work ethic, making him a well-rounded asset in the middle of the park. Whether he’s setting the rhythm or unlocking defences, his influence is central to Watford’s approach — and if the Hornets are to defeat the Yellows this weekend, expect Louza to be at the heart of it.

By the Numbers — Fast Facts

• Kick-off: Saturday 4 October, 3:00pm at Vicarage Road.
• Recent form (last five): Oxford W1 D3 L1; QPR: W1 D2 L2.
• Goals: Oxford have scored nine and conceded 11 this season, Watford have scored nine and conceded 10 this season.
• Fun Fact: Each of Oxford’s last four wins over Watford has come by the same score line — a narrow 1-0 victory.
• Historic classics: Oxford 1-0 Watford (15 March 2025); Oxford 1-0 Watford (8 May 1993); Oxford 1-0 Watford (13 January 1990).
• Top Goal scorers this season: Will Lankshear (3 goals); Imran Louza, Nestory Irankunda (2 goals).
• Wore both badges (years played for Oxford): Keith Andrews (2000),  David Bardsley (1987-1989), David Connolly (2014), Alex Dyer (1993-1995), Richard Hill (1987-1990), Nigel Jemson (1996-1998 & 2000), Josh McEachran (2023-2025), Jerome Sinclair (2019).

Voices from the Camp: 

Watch Gary Rowett & Przemyslaw Placheta's full press conferences below:

Relive last season's triumph over Watford at the Kassam Stadium!