---
title: "Koeman wary of Watford’s attacking force"
canonical: "https://readsouthampton.com/2016/01/12/koeman-wary-watfords-attacking-force/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Osman"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2016-01-12T17:58:37Z"
modified: "2016-01-12T17:58:37Z"
---

# Koeman wary of Watford’s attacking force

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has [admitted](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11700/10127532/troy-deeney-and-odion-ighalo-main-watford-threat-warns-ronald-koeman?) his concerns regarding striking duo Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney as the Saints prepare to take on in-form Watford on Wednesday evening.

The Hornets’ pair have been in superb form for their side this season, scoring a combined 21 competitive goals between them that has helped to lift Quique Sanchez Flores’ side up to ninth in the Premier League.

> They have two in front full of confidence, one (Troy Deeney) is working very hard for Odion Ighalo so that he can be the man scoring goals and that is difficult.

Ighalo in particular has been Watford’s standout player so far this campaign, slotting away 14 goals for his side whilst captain Deeney has fired in seven, just over the halfway mark in the season.

Manager Koeman has recently sung the praises of Watford’s displays this season, describing them as a team with “spirit and confidence”.

![Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.cohttps//media.readsouthampton.com/readsouthampton/2016/01/5027136001.jpg)

> It’s a team playing out of very good organisation and they have the spirit and the confidence in every match that they can win.

There is no doubt over Watford’s firepower, however a huge task is in the offing for Saints’ defenders on Wednesday to stop the pair.

Both Virgil van Dijk and Jose Fonte will need to be at the very top of their game in order to prevent Deeney or Ighalo from bagging yet another goal respectively, but the return of Fraser Forster in goal for Saints will be a big boost in confidence and stature to the back-line.

Can Southampton contain Ighalo and Deeney?