Watford captain Mattie Pollock has set out the team's ambition ahead of Tuesday's Championship fixture against Preston North End at Vicarage Road. The Hornets, currently 17th in the table with five points from five games, are looking to build on an unbeaten home record this season.
Pollock emphasized that any game, especially at home, is an opportunity for the Golden Boys. "We have two home games now to take points and see where we end up," the captain said. The team sits six points behind league leaders Swansea City and faces a quick turnaround with another home match against Stoke City this Saturday.
Watford's start to the 2026-27 Championship campaign has been mixed. They have recorded one win, two draws, and two losses from their opening five fixtures. Their recent form reads LLDDW, with four goals scored and six conceded, giving them a minus two goal difference. The next challenge is a Preston side visiting Vicarage Road for a 7:45pm kick-off on September 8.
Pollock expressed his pleasure at the arrival of defensive reinforcements Branimir Mlačić and Soumaïla Coulibaly this summer. He stated the new players have adapted well to the changing room and brought good values with them. Mlačić is described as a strong and vocal presence, while Coulibaly has provided energy and is also vocal on the pitch. Their integration comes at a time when the squad is dealing with several absences. Mlačić is currently sidelined alongside Edoardo Bove, Jack Grieves, Jeremy Ngakia, Kwadwo Baah, and Marc Bola.
Pollock left no doubt about the club's targets. He stated Watford is a big club in the league and must push to win, adding there is no hiding that ambition. The captain stressed the importance of the right mindset and warned against overlooking any opponent, noting that Preston North End have their own threats. The focus is firmly on securing positive results in front of the home support. "We're looking forward to being in front of our fans and to kick on," Pollock added. The full schedule of upcoming matches is available on the fixtures page.
The match represents a chance for Watford to climb the Championship table. Pollock's comments underline a collective understanding that performances at Vicarage Road need to be strong. The team will aim to use the energy from the stands to overcome a Preston side and start moving up from 17th place. After this fixture, attention turns to preparing for the visit of 13th-placed Stoke City on Saturday, September 12, for a 3:00pm kick-off. Fans can view the latest player information and squad details on the official squad page.
