Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers clash at Wembley on Sunday afternoon in the weekend’s second FA Cup semi-final. For Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves, this is the club’s 15th FA Cup semi-final, but their first since 1998. They have lost their last four games at this stage of the competition, with their last semi-final victory coming in 1960, when they won the Cup under the management of the iconic Stan Cullis.
For Javi Gracia’s Watford, this is the club’s seventh FA Cup final. Their only previous victory at this stage of the competition was in 1984, when they beat Plymouth Argyle 1-0. They lost 2-0 to Everton in the final that year.
Both teams head into this game on the back of Premier League victories in midweek. Wolves won 4-1 at home to struggling Fulham, while Watford recorded an impressive 2-1 home win over Manchester United.
Watford vs Wolves Prediction: Hornets 2-1 Wolves
Our prediction for this game is that Watford will come out on top, winning an exciting game 2-1. The Hornets have a really good recent record against Wanderers, and won at Molineux in the Premier League earlier this season. The Hornets last lost to Wolves in 2014, and they have won two and drawn two of the contests between the teams since then. We think that both teams will score on Sunday, and the eventual scoreline might be much bigger than 2-1. Spectators can look forward to real treat in our view, especially if they are neutral.
Our recommended tip: Watford, both score
Our featured tip for this game comes from Ladbrokes, who are offering odds of 11/2 on Watford to win and both teams to score. We think that this is a good bet as it offers great value in terms of the odds. It also gives you a fair degree of flexibility when it comes to the precise final scoreline. We suspect there might be plenty of goals in this fixture, with both teams unfamiliar with this stage of the FA Cup. The fans in the stadium are sure to generate a passionate, festival atmosphere too.
Previous matches
Watford have lost only one of their last five games against Wolves in all competitions. That victory came in December 2014 in the Championship. In total, the clubs have met 45 times in all competitions. Wolves have won 13 of those clashes, Watford 14 and there have been 18 draws. Te last FA Cup meeting was in 2008, when Wolves won 4-1 at Vicarage Road.
The most recent meeting between the teams was earlier this season in the Premier League. The teams met at Molineux in October, with the visitors winning 2-0, thanks to goals from Etienne Capoue and Roberto Pereyra.
Top 3 FA Cup Bookies
Players to watch: Troy Deeney & Raul Jimenez
Watford captain Troy Deeney has directly contributed to nine goals in his last 13 FA Cup appearances, scoring five and assisting four. The combative target man is sure relish the occasion on Sunday, and Wolves will need to keep a close eye on the striker. The 30-year-old has scored nine Premier League goals in 2018/19, and provided five assists for his team-mates in that competition. Deeney is sure to make the Wolves defence work hard this weekend.
Wolves ‘ Mexican striker Raul Jimenez has been a real hit in the FA Cup this season. The 27-year-old has scored in the third, fourth and sixth rounds of the competition this season. He inked a permanent contract at Wolves earlier this week, a reward for his 15 goals in 37 games since joining on loan in summer 2018. Wolves paid £30 million to Benfica to secure his service on a permanent basis.
