Troy Deeney drops score prediction for Charlton Athletic v Watford | OneFootball

The Addicks and the Hornets meet on Saturday to get their 2025/26 Championship campaigns underway.

Former Watford striker Troy Deeney has predicted how the Hornets' opening day clash with Charlton Athletic at The Valley will finish.

New Watford head coach Paulo Pezzolano will take charge of his first competitive game when his side takes on Nathan Jones' Charlton on Saturday, and both teams will be eager to get off to a good start ahead of what is set to be a competitive season in the Championship.

The Hornets will be looking to improve on last season's 14th-place finish in the second tier, so they will hope that the likes of Luca Kjerrumgaard, Hector Kyprianou and Nestory Irankunda can help the club be in the play-off picture after arriving at Vicarage Road this summer.

Charlton are set to play their first Championship fixture in over five years, having won promotion via the League One play-off final last season. The Addicks have been relegated the last two times they have been in this division, so they will be hoping to get off to a good start as they now look to establish themselves in the Championship.

Troy Deeney drops Charlton v Watford prediction

Charlton v Watford is a difficult game to predict, as Watford have far more recent experience in the Championship, but Charlton have not been beaten at The Valley since December last year.

The Addicks have been difficult to beat under Nathan Jones, while it remains to be seen how Watford will perform in a competitive fixture under their new boss Paulo Pezzolano, so anything could happen when the two sides meet on Saturday.

One person who is no stranger to opening day fixtures involving Watford is Troy Deeney, who scored for the Hornets during the first game of the Championship season in both 2013 and 2014, contributing to victories against Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers.

The 37-year-old has predicted what the result will be when Charlton host Watford at 12:30 on Saturday, via TikTok.

"Charlton versus Watford, again, first game back," Deeney said.

"Charlton just coming up in the play-offs, given them a little less time to get ready.

"Watford, new manager again. I know we've heard that before.

"I am going to go draw. I am going to go for a 1-1 draw."

It would be no surprise if it was a cagey game between Charlton and Watford, as is often the case on the opening day of the season, even without a Nathan Jones team being involved, so a low-scoring draw could prove to be a good prediction by Deeney.

Deeney has experience of this fixture

Deeney has the necessary experience to predict what could happen in a game between Charlton and Watford, having been a part of six fixtures involving the two sides during his career.

His most memorable victory against the Addicks came at Vicarage Road in January 2015, when he scored in a 5-0 win for the Hornets.

However, he was also part of the Watford side that lost 4-3 at home to Charlton in January 2013, when Johnnie Jackson scored a late winner in front of the away end.

Charlton fans will also remember when they secured Championship safety with a 3-1 win against Watford at The Valley in April 2014, although Deeney's incredible long-range effort was certainly the standout goal of the game.