Could Sol Bamba v Troy Deeney decide Leeds United v Watford?

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Leeds United and Watford will face each other at Elland Road in the Championship on Saturday.

Sol Bamba has been one of Leeds United’s best players in recent games, and he will once again be crucial on Saturday.

The Whites will head into the Championship clash against Watford at Elland Road on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion away from home.

The loss saw Leeds’s three-game winning run come to an end, and Neil Redfearn’s side will be determined to bounce back in style.

Winning against promotion-chasing Watford even at home will be far from easy, but if Bamba can continue his recent run of form, then the West Yorkshire outfit will certainly have a good chance.

As the Opta Stats table below shows, Bamba has been crucial in Leeds’s recent upturn in form and is probably the best signing the former Premier League outfit have made this season.

Signed from Palermo in the January transfer window on loan for the remainder of the campaign, Bamba has made 52 clearances, 26 interceptions and won 12 of the 16 tackles in six Championship appearances.

The 30-year-old Ivory Coast international centre-back will have his work cut out, though, as he will face an in-form Troy Deeney – a duel which could eventually decide the outcome of the encounter.

The 26-year-old Watford captain has been in good form this season and will be a major threat to the Leeds defence on Saturday.

As the above Opta Stats table shows, Deeney has scored 13 goals and created 40 chances in 29 Championship appearances, although his shot accuracy of just over 43% leaves much to be desired.

Winning at Leeds will not be easy for Watford, but with Deeney in good form, the Hornets will certainly have a chance.