Town hope Foster will net unwanted hat-trick of losses

TOWN head to Watford on Saturday aiming to notch their first Premier League victory of the season.

Vicarage Road was the scene of a spectacular 4-1 success for David Wagner’s side last season and, of course, they completed the double over the Hornets with Tom Ince’s dramatic late winner at the John Smith’s Stadium in April.

Since then Town have failed to find the net on home soil and, this term, have picked up just three points so far from a home draw against Cardiff City and points at both Everton and Burnley. Performances, however, have been heightening hopes that a Town victory isn’t too far down the line and if they were to double their season’s tally of points with a victory this weekend, it could come at the expense of a side sitting seventh in the table.

That standing is courtesy of four straight wins from the start of the campaign, because until last weekend’s fine 2-0 win at Wolves with goals from Etienne Capoue and Roberto Pereyra, Javi Gracia’s side had drawn one and lost three of their previous four.

One man who has been ever-present for Watford this season is former England goalkeeper Ben Foster. Now 35, he is back at the club where he previously had two successful loan spells – signing in the summer following West Brom’s relegation to the Championship from the top flight.

And Foster’s record against Town last season? Two appearances, two defeats. And the man who helped inflict most of that misery? Rajiv van La Parra. At the John Smith’s Stadium last November, Foster – a League Cup winner with both Manchester United and Birmingham City – was beaten by the Dutchman’s long-range curling strike just before halftime. And even though Town had Christopher Schindler sent off 12 minutes into the second half, there was no joy for Foster as Town and van La Parra held on for a 1-0 win.

Then, at the Hawthorns in February, former Wolves man Van La Parra opened the scoring again to give Town a foothold three minutes into the second half.

Striker Steve Mounie increased the advantage on 56 minutes before Craig Dawson pulled one back for the home side with 26 minutes still left to play.

Once again, Wagner’s men held strong to take all three points.