Match Pack: Saints vs Watford
Southampton welcome Watford to St Mary's in the Sky Bet Championship, as Saints look to build on a recent upturn in form. Get set for matchday with our in-depth Match Pack...
THE MATCH
Southampton vs Watford
Sky Bet Championship
St Mary’s Stadium
Saturday 7th February, 12.31pm GMT
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Elliot Bell
Assistants: Richard Woodward, Ian Cooper
Fourth official: Lee Swabey
THE KITS
Saints will be in their traditional home colours, with the Hornets in their third strip of blue shirts, silver shorts and blue socks.
TICKETS
This Category B fixture is on general sale, with prices starting from £25 for Adults and £15 for Juniors.
LIVE COVERAGE
For those unable to make it to St Mary's, Saints Play match passes are available to supporters outside the UK. The game will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports+.
THE PROGRAMME
The matchday programme is available to order online, as well as from the various sellers around St Mary’s.
Jon Hickley, an experienced 3D and motion designer, is this week's cover artist who has created a striking illustration of past Saints scorers against Watford, sculpted into Corinthian-inspired models.
Inside you'll find Oriol Romeu's A-Z of Football, as the returning Saint reveals some of the fondest memories from his life in the game, as well as Tonda Eckert’s latest notes, coverage of our visitors and all the latest news from our Women's and Academy teams.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Both teams head into this game in contrasting form, with Saints enjoying a recent upturn in results that has seen Tonda Eckert’s side take seven points from the last nine available.
Just as pleasing for the head coach have been the two clean sheets in that time, most recently in last weekend’s 2-0 triumph at Stoke, where Saints were convincing victors on the road.
As for Watford, a goalless draw at Hull in midweek represented a positive result but did extend the Hornets’ winless run to six matches in all competitions.
This led to the departure of head coach Javi Gracia, leaving former Bournemouth left-back Charlie Daniels in interim charge for the visit to St Mary’s, as he was against Hull.
Watford currently sit eighth in the Championship table, two points off the play-off places, but victory for Saints would see the hosts move to within a single point of the visitors.
TEAM NEWS
Saints: Tonda Eckert could hand a debut to deadline-day signing Cyle Larin, who is available for the first time, but Jay Robinson and Mads Roerslev are sidelined with injury.
Saints will also be without Adam Armstrong and Joe Aribo, who completed moves away from the club on deadline day.
Watford: The game at St Mary's looks likely to come too soon for recent arrivals Edoardo Bove and Pierre Ekwah, although fellow new signing Saba Goglichidze could feature.
Mattie Pollock is progressing well after suffering a hamstring injury, while Rocco Vata and Hector Kyprianou are long-term absentees and Nestory Irankunda is suspended.
THE MANAGERS
Tonda Eckert: “I’ve been in Italy for a couple of years so I’m familiar with the [Watford] owners. They have had quite a few changes, but it’s still, I think, a very good squad with some very good players in there.
“The good thing is they played a game in midweek, so we have seen some footage of what they have changed and adapted, and it’s actually not too much. Overall the team looks quite similar. It’s going to be a big challenge for us but also a big opportunity to go strong tomorrow.”
Charlie Daniels: “It was a really good performance (against Hull), but it’s just the start. We’re not getting ahead of ourselves. It’s been a whirlwind few days and it’s not even been a full week yet. We feel like we are getting to grips with everything now.
“Moving forward we need the same energy, enthusiasm and quality against a strong Southampton side. Like I said on Tuesday, it is a fresh start for everyone. As a group we are trying to create that bond together. Nobody ever achieves anything by themselves in a football squad.”
ONES TO WATCH
Finn Azaz: After a rich vein of form in the early weeks of Tonda Eckert’s reign, Azaz has looked back to his best in the last couple of matches.
His defence-splitting pass for Adam Armstrong at Fratton Park might have given Saints an early lead before he assisted Leo Scienza’s second-half opener with another piercing through ball, before opening the scoring and producing a Player of the Match performance at Stoke last time out.
Imran Louza: Watford captain Louza is the heartbeat of the Hornets’ midfield.
The Moroccan international, now in his fifth year at Vicarage Road, already has 13 goal contributions to his name this season, with his six goals all coming in an eight-game purple patch in the autumn.
TOP SCORERS
Saints
Goals:
Azaz 8
Scienza 5
Manning, Harwood-Bellis, Archer 4
Assists:
Azaz, Fellows 5
Scienza 4
Manning 3
Watford
Goals:
Kjerrumgaard 7
Louza 6
Doumbia, Ince 4
Assists:
Louza 7
Ngakia 4
Irankunda 3
FORM GUIDE
Saints
Stoke (a) SBC: W 2-0 (Azaz, Downes)
Portsmouth (a) SBC: D 1-1 (Scienza)
Sheff Utd (h) SBC: W 1-0 (Scienza)
Hull (h) SBC: L 1-2 (Stewart)
Doncaster (a) FAC3: W 3-2 (Bragg, Archer, Matsuki)
Watford
Hull (a) SBC: D 0-0
Swansea (h) SBC: L 0-2
Blackburn (a) SBC: D 1-1 (Kayembe)
Portsmouth (h) SBC: D 1-1 (Doumbia)
Millwall (h) SBC: L 0-2
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 62
Saints wins: 27
Draws: 16
Watford wins: 19
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
Aug 2025: Watford 2-2 Saints Championship (Archer, Manning)
Apr 2024: Saints 3-2 Watford Championship (Smallbone, Adams, Downes)
Feb 2024: Saints 3-0 Watford FA Cup fourth round replay (Mara 2, Adams)
Jan 2024: Watford 1-1 Saints FA Cup fourth round (S. Armstrong)
Dec 2023: Watford 1-1 Saints Championship (Adams)
KEEP UP TO DATE
Not able to make it to the game? Download the official Saints app to follow live in-match updates and follow us on social media for further updates and exclusive content:
- Instagram
- Twitter
- Facebook
For a limited time only, Saints Memberships are half price. Enjoy early ticket access and discounts across the club for just £15 for Adults and £7.50 for Juniors.
