While the Championship season may just be eight matches old, Valerien Ismael knows that he is reaching a point where there will be talk about his future.
Since thrashing Queens Park Rangers on the opening day of the season, Watford have delivered just one win in seven games – a 2-0 triumph over Birmingham City.
A three-match unbeaten run preceded the trip to Leeds United last time out, yet the manner of the 3-0 reverse highlighted the gulf in class between the two teams.
From having the best defensive record in the division during the early stages of 2023-24, Watford have now conceded eight times in just four outings.
The one positive is that just three strikes have been shipped in five fixtures at Vicarage Road, but that will be put to the test against a seemingly-resurgent Middlesbrough.
Michael Carrick’s team remain far below where they were expected to be at this stage of the season after last season’s appearance in the playoffs.
Nevertheless, collecting four points from games with Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton has lifted the mood at the Riverside Stadium at a time when doubts were beginning to emerge about their progression.
A 2-1 triumph over Southampton in the North East was backed up by a 2-0 success away at Bradford City in the EFL Cup, Boro now in the last 16 where they will play Exeter City.
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Ismael is expected to ring the changes to his Watford XI with Giorgi Chakvetadze potentially coming into the side for his first Championship start.Edo Kayembe and Yaser Asprilla are also pushing for opportunities in midfield, while a change of system cannot be ruled out.Meanwhile, Middlesbrough will be able to call upon Matt Crooks after he sat out the EFL Cup tie at Bradford through
suspension.Tommy Smith is on standby to deputise for Rav van den Berg, who has a hamstring issue, while Alex Bangura and Marcus Forss will only be fit enough for the substitutes’ bench at best.Leeds United loanee Sam Greenwood is likely to again have to make do with a spot among the replacements.
