Eng. Championship
2026-08-16 - Watford vs Southampton
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Sunday 16th August 2026 - Kick Off 1:30pm
This game is live on TV
Watford
The owners may have been using a formula that was not appreciated by football fans in general, but Watford fans would have been happy enough about playing in the Premier League in six of seven seasons between 2015 and 2022. Things have changed in recent years and the owners have lost the Midas touch when it comes to selecting manager's to lead them in a positive direction and this going to be the fifth season in a row in the Championship.
Only once have they finished in the top half of the standings, but Watford have not really threatened to enter the Play Off mix, although that could change with the expanded format this season. The Hornets finished 16th in the Championship last season, which is the lowest finish since 2010, while Watford once again have a new manager in charge in Alessio Dionisi.
Watford were in poor form in the second half of the season and they will need to get off to a fast start to ease any lingering concerns. Last weekend they were able to beat Crawley Town at home in the League Cup First Round, but Watford ended last season with a single win from 6 at Vicarage Road and they were beaten by Sheffield United and Coventry City in the last Championship fixtures here.
Southampton
For most teams, the start of a new season means beginning on a level setting as every other club in the Division, but the controversial ending to last season has overshadowed the beginning of this one for Southampton. After the 'spygate' scandal that saw Southampton removed from the Play Off Final, the club were also handed a four point penalty to begin this season.
There is still a concern that manager Tonda Eckert is going to have to serve a long touchline ban, but for now The Saints will begin the season in 24th place and 4 points from safety. However, this Southampton team were in incredible form in the second half of the season when Eckert really took control of the squad, and they remain amongst the favourites to find a way to make up for the 2025/26 season and conclude this one with promotion back to the Premier League.
Southampton won at Colchester United in the League Cup First Round and they have lost 1 of the last 26 games in all competitions and that came at the hands of Manchester City in the FA Cup Semi Final. The win last weekend means Southampton have won 10 of the last 13 away games in all competitions.
Head to Head
Southampton took four points from Watford in the Championship last season.
The game at Vicarage Road saw these two clubs share the points after a 2-2 draw and that does mean the last 3 fixtures between Watford and Southampton at this ground have all ended in draws.
Southampton are unbeaten in 11 visits to Vicarage Road, but 7 of those matches have ended in draws.
Prediction
Only a handful of Championship clubs lost fewer home games than Watford last season, but there is a low expectation around the club after a 16th place finish in the second tier of English Football.
The Premier League feels further away than it has in recent years, but Watford proved tough to play here and there is always going to be a positive atmosphere in the opening League fixture of the campaign.
Watford did struggle in the final half of the season, but they will be hoping a new manager can reinvigorate the squad.
The fans will not need any motivation with Southampton the opening visitors and this team is going to be pantomime villain of the Championship.
'Spygate' saw Southampton thrown out of the Play Off Final in disgrace and they begin the season with a 4 point penalty, but this is still a squad filled with quality and Tonda Eckert had found a way to get the best out of them.
Winning at Colchester United is a reminder of the qualities of Southampton and they do have the manager helping out on the sidelines for this one.
Winning at Vicarage Road has been tough for Southampton, but they have a long unbeaten record here and The Saints squad should be plenty motivated to make up for what they will feel was a very harsh way to conclude the last campaign.
The Pick :
Watford 1-2 Southampton
