Watford will be hoping for a better outcome when a referee takes charge of one of their away fixtures for the second time this season tonight.

The EFL website has stated that Andrew Kitchen has been appointed as the referee for the Championship clash against Preston North End.

Kitchen has refereed four previous Championship matches in this campaign, one of which was the Hornets’ 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United at the start of September.

That game saw the official issue eight of the 23 yellow cards he has shown so far this season.

Kitchen has become something of a regular fixture for Watford’s away games, having take charge of the 1-0 victory at Rotherham United in February, the 1-1 draw at Bristol City in January and the 1-0 win at Swansea City last October.

Ian Cooper and Hugh Gilroy are due to be the assistant referees for the 7.45pm kick-off at Deepdale, with Adam Herczeg on fourth official duties.