During Watford's recent run of Premier League defeats, the only ray of sunshine was the Hornets' 1-0 FA Cup third round win against Newcastle United a few weeks earlier. Quique Sanchez Flores' reward for that is a tough away tie against Championship side Nottingham Forest - with a fifth round spot on the line - at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon.
Make no mistake about it, the Watford players come into this game full of confidence and in much better spirits after stopping a run of four league defeats with a 2-1 win over Newcastle last weekend. Goals from Odion Ighalo - who Flores will hope has found his shooting boots once more - and Craig Cathcart were enough to give the Hornets three huge points, despite a Jamaal Lascelles goal 20 minutes from time.
In the name of progress
It wasn't a comprehensive victory by any means, but it marks the second time Watford have dispatched Steve McClaren's men in recent weeks, after their FA Cup third round win. Now, Watford will be looking at progressing to the next stage of the competition, with a completely winnable - albeit tough - fixture against Dougie Freedman's Forest.
"It's a very historic competition"
- Quique Sanchez Flores
Flores has spoken to the press ahead of the match on Saturday, expressing his respect and admiration for the FA Cup, and saying that he "admired [the competition] from a distance" when he managed in other leagues, before calling it "historic". He also suggested that Watford will play a "strong" side, but admitted that the tournament offers a "perfect" opportunity to "take other players who are training well" and give them some minutes on the pitch.
It seems the perfect opportunity for Watford to demonstrate how well they're playing this season while progressing in a competition that one would expect them to do well in with the pressure off, but Forest at the City Ground will not be an easy game.
Impenetrable Forest?
Freedman's side may not be battling amongst the promotion places and looking like a Premier League side, but they are having a relatively good season: the Reds sit 11th in the Championship, but are only seven points adrift of the top six and, ultimately, the play-off places.
On Tuesday night, Forest were involved in a lively contest at the City Ground, drawing 0-0 with Queens Park Rangers, but not through lack of chances. Ben Osborn struck the left-hand post for Forest in the first half, before Robert Tesche hit the bar from 25 yards out.
Flores must be wary of the Forest threat - but also conscious of how difficult they are to break down - and indeed Freedman's players will also be bristling with confidence after going unbeaten in their last five league games - two of which they have come away from victorious.
Playing Watford - particularly with the season they are having - is a different challenge altogether, however, and Flores - irrespective of the team he fields, will be expecting his side to progress. It won't be easy, but if the Spaniard gets the balance right, expect to see Watford in the draw for the fifth round come Saturday night.
