Watford vs West Ham: It's a big game for Andy Carroll, red cards a real possibility

A look ahead to the Premier League fixture at Vicarage Road

Andy Carroll (GETTY IMAGES)

It’s a big game for…

ANDY CARROLL: After scoring the winning goal against Chelsea last weekend Andy Carroll will be pushing for a starting place. Slaven Bilic recently described him as “the best in England” aerially, and is likely to use him as a battering ram against Watford’s brick wall defence. Carroll will need to perform similar heroics to break into Bilic’s starting eleven.

Best stat…

11: The total number of red cards in West Ham matches under Bilic; they have received six and their opponents five across 17 matches to date.

Remember when…

West Ham beat Watford 4-0 at Vicarage road in August 2011, thanks to goals from James Tomkins, Joey O’Brien, Carlton Cole, and Scott Parker. It was Sam Allardyce’s third match in charge of the newly demoted club, and a welcome relief from an uncomfortable opening fortnight for the Hammers that included a 1-0 defeat at home to Cardiff on the opening day. West Ham went on to finish 3rd and win the play-off final.

Player to watch…

TROY DEENEY: Watford’s captain finally scored his first Premier League goal last weekend against Stoke City, having hit more than 20 in each of his last two seasons. With Watford currently the league’s lowest scorers with eight, his return to goalscoring has come at the perfect time.

Past three-meetings…

West Ham 1 (Vaz Te), Watford 1 (Murray), The Championship, March 2012

Watford 0, West ham 4 (Tomkins, O’Brien, Cole, Parker), The Championship, August 2011

Watford 1 (Mullins og), West Ham 0, League Cup, September 2008

Form guide…

WATFORD: WWLDLW

WEST HAM: WLDDWW

Vital information…

KICK-OFF TIME: 3PM, Saturday 31 October

TV: highlights on BBC1