Watford face a tough away test at Norwich City on Saturday aiming to end a 250-day wait for a victory on the road. Head coach Alessio Dionisi has stressed the need for courage and better play to secure a vital three points.
The Hornets sit 21st in the Championship with 11 points from 12 games, a position they are desperate to improve. A win at Carrow Road would see them leapfrog their hosts in the table, a key step after a run of four defeats in their last five matches. Their last away win came in February, a statistic Dionisi and his squad are acutely aware of.
Dionisi's Message
Speaking on Thursday, the 46-year-old boss acknowledged the difficulty of the task. He pointed to Norwich's recent 3-2 victory over his side as evidence of their quality. "We are an important club in this league, but I know our situation," Dionisi said. "Every team is different when they play at home; they are more aggressive and play with the ball better." He will be demanding his players show more fight in goal minutes, having seen them concede an average of 1.67 goals per game this season.
Despite the recent loss, Watford have a strong historical record at Carrow Road, having won five of the last seven away clashes. They also completed a league double over Norwich last season, providing a psychological boost ahead of this fixture. The team has spent two days together in a hotel for bonding, a move Dionisi hopes will galvanise a squad containing 12 new players.
Team News
Watford will be without several key players for the trip. Michail Antonio is sidelined with a hamstring and abductor problem, joining the absentees list that includes Baah, Ngakia, Bove and Coulibaly. These absences add to the challenge of improving a defensive record that has seen the team concede 20 goals this season, the second-worst in the division.
Their recent fixtures have been punishing, with heavy losses to Cardiff and Burnley preceding a morale-boosting 2-0 home win over Charlton. That victory is the emotion Dionisi wants his players to replicate. "After the match against Charlton, we were happy, and now we want to live the same emotions," he said. The focus now shifts to ending the dismal away form that has contributed to their lowly standings position. After this trip, the team must quickly prepare for their next fixture, a home match against Lincoln City on Tuesday evening.
Around 1,300 supporters will make the 234-mile round trip to Norfolk, a show of faith Dionisi was quick to acknowledge. Their backing will be needed as Watford look to build momentum before returning to Vicarage Road to face 15th-placed Lincoln on Tuesday. The trip to Carrow Road kicks off at 12:30pm on Saturday.
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