Team news

Hoskins hopeful of start Beleaguered Watford boss Malky Mackay will pick from an unchanged squad when Ipswich visit Vicarage Road.

The Hornets suffered their fourth consecutive defeat at the hands of rock-bottom Peterborough on Saturday but with no injuries or suspensions, Mackay could keep faith with the same players.

Winger Will Buckley was overlooked for a place on the bench against Posh, despite a midweek run-out for the reserves following a thigh injury, but he could come into contention for a first appearance since his January move from Rochdale.

Tom Cleverley made his return from a ban against Posh in place of Jon Harley and the on-loan Manchester United midfielder should retain his place.

If Mackay is thinking of shuffling his pack around, striker Will Hoskins will be hoping to be a beneficiary after he replaced Danny Graham midway through the second half on Saturday.

The game against Town is one they can ill-afford to lose as their poor run of form has seen an alarming side down the table and the Hornets are now just point above the drop zone.

Ipswich boss Roy Keane will have to wait on the outcome of a Football Association disciplinary hearing before naming his side.

Defender Damien Delaney was sent off against Scunthorpe at the weekend but Keane has appealed to the FA and will find out on Tuesday afternoon whether the Republic of Ireland international will be available to face the free-falling Hornets.

If the FA do not rescind the red card then Pim Balkestein or the recalled Tommy Smith will start at the back.

Midfielder Grant Leadbitter will return after a two-match suspension of his own while 16-year-old striker Connor Wickham will be hoping to start.

The teenager scored his first league goal to give Town victory over Scunthorpe on Saturday and could be handed a start.

Keane remains without long-term absentees Richard Wright and Luciano Civelli, who are recovering from knee surgery.

Watford 2-1 Ipswich

Last modified 12:35 22/03/10

Hornets secure vital victory Will Hoskins halted Watford's slide down the Coca-Cola Championship with a 2-1 win to ensure a few more sleepless nights for Ipswich boss Roy Keane.

Back-to-back wins had eased Town clear of the drop zone ahead of their meeting with a Hornets side who had plummeted down the table having lost their last four matches and not scored in three.

But as usual the form book offered little in the way of insight in this season's second tier as goals from Henri Lansbury and Hoskins got the hosts back to winning ways.

Keane admits his side's defeats keep him awake at night, and he will have nightmares about their first-half display.

On-loan Arsenal midfielder Lansbury had given the visitors a warning with barely 30 seconds on the clock when his deflected free-kick cannoned back off the crossbar.

But Lansbury had better luck seven minutes later when he took aim from virtually the same position, some 35 yards out on the left wing.

This time the England Under-21 international's inswinging free-kick was missed by everyone - including, crucially, Town goalkeeper Brian Murphy - and nestled in the back of the net.

An angry Keane had seen enough after just 20 minutes, hauling off midfielder Owen Garvan for Lee Martin. The woodwork denied Watford again seconds later when Heidar Helguson met Lloyd Doyley's cross at the far post and planted his header against the upright.

Murphy then twice came to the visitors' rescue, keeping out a fierce Helguson volley and saving with his legs to deny Hoskins.

If Keane's demeanour on the touchline was anything to go by, the visiting dressing room would have been no place for the faint-hearted at the interval.

They improved markedly after the break and dragged themselves level in the 68th minute when Watford failed to deal with Grant Leadbitter's corner.

The loose ball eventually found its way to Jack Colback, and the on-loan Sunderland youngster lashed it back past home keeper Scott Loach. Hoskins must have thought his chance to be a hero had passed him by when he miscued right in front of goal from John Eustace's clever pass.