Stoke vs Watford

14 March 2026 · Championship · 2025/26 · Referee Leigh Doughty

Full time 3 – 1

Half-time: 1–0

  • M. Manhoef 28’, 77’
  • S. Gallagher 85’
  • N. Irankunda 81’

Match summary

Stoke beat Watford 3-1. Stoke led 1-0 at half-time.

In the first half, M. Manhoef put Stoke ahead in the 28th minute. In the second half, Manhoef made it 2-0 in the 77th minute, N. Irankunda pulled one back to make it 2-1 in the 81st minute, and S. Gallagher made it 3-1 in the 85th minute.

There was little between the sides on chances: Stoke created 1.68 expected goals (xG) from 19 shots, Watford 1.90 from 15.

Match stats

45% Possession 55%
19 Shots 15
12 Shots on target 4
6 Corners 7
318 Passes 391
71.4% Pass accuracy 78.3%
11 Tackles 13
11 Fouls 13
4 Yellow cards 2
2 Offsides 0

Key events

Stoke Watford
15’
T. InceShot on target
17’
Shot on target
20’
T. RigoShot on target
23’
M. ManhoefLeft foot shot1-0 (Stoke)
28’
M. ManhoefShot on target
28’
T. RigoShot on target
34’
46’
E. KayembeShot on target
50’
51’
A. PhillipsShot on target
52’
60’
M. ManhoefShot on target
63’
70’
71’
P. EkwahN. Mendy
71’
J. LawsonT. Ince
T. Simkin
72’
S. GallagherShot on target
74’
M. ManhoefRight foot shot2-0 (Stoke)
77’
M. ManhoefShot on target
77’
81’
N. IrankundaRight foot shot2-1 (Watford)
T. SekoS. N'Zonzi
83’
S. GallagherRight foot shot3-1 (Stoke)
85’
86’
E. BoveS. Mfuni
88’
E. KayembeShot on target
90’
T. RigoShot on target
90+6’

How the chances added up

Running total of expected goals (xG) for each side through the match. xG rates each chance by how often similar shots are scored. A goal is marked where it was scored.

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 0’ 15’ 30’ 45’ 60’ 75’ 90’ HT 1.68 1.90 28’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), 1-0 28’ 77’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), 2-0 77’ 81’ N. Irankunda (Watford), 2-1 81’ 85’ S. Gallagher (Stoke), 3-1 85’ 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 0’ 15’ 30’ 45’ 60’ 75’ 90’ HT 1.68 1.90 28’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), 1-0 Manhoef 28’ 77’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), 2-0 Manhoef 77’ 81’ N. Irankunda (Watford), 2-1 Irankunda 81’ 85’ S. Gallagher (Stoke), 3-1 Gallagher 85’
Stoke 1.68 xGWatford 1.90 xG Goal

Tap a goal for the scorer and score.

Shot map

Every shot and where it was taken from.

 Watford attacking Stoke attacking 
21’ I. Louza (Watford), open play, 0.43 xG, off target 15’ T. Ince (Watford), open play, 0.36 xG, saved 46’ M. Talovierov (Stoke), from a corner, 0.29 xG, off target 77’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), open play, 0.21 xG, saved 49’ S. Mfuni (Watford), from a corner, 0.20 xG, off target 10’ T. Ince (Watford), open play, 0.18 xG, blocked 74’ S. Gallagher (Stoke), open play, 0.17 xG, saved 15’ S. Goglichidze (Watford), set piece, 0.17 xG, off target 59’ M. Smit (Stoke), open play, 0.16 xG, off target 52’ A. Phillips (Stoke), set piece, 0.14 xG, saved 58’ S. Mfuni (Watford), from a corner, 0.13 xG, off target 77’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), open play, 0.12 xG, goal 88’ E. Kayembe (Watford), open play, 0.10 xG, saved 31’ I. Louza (Watford), open play, 0.09 xG, blocked 85’ S. Gallagher (Stoke), open play, 0.09 xG, goal 28’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), open play, 0.09 xG, goal 23’ T. Rigo (Stoke), open play, 0.08 xG, saved 18’ G. Chakvetadze (Watford), direct free kick, 0.06 xG, blocked 63’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), open play, 0.06 xG, saved 34’ T. Rigo (Stoke), open play, 0.05 xG, saved 1’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), open play, 0.05 xG, blocked 10’ E. Kayembe (Watford), open play, 0.05 xG, off target 20’ Unknown (Stoke), from a corner, 0.05 xG, saved 28’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), open play, 0.04 xG, saved 46’ E. Kayembe (Watford), open play, 0.04 xG, saved 53’ I. Louza (Watford), open play, 0.03 xG, blocked 66’ Unknown (Stoke), open play, 0.03 xG, off target 81’ N. Irankunda (Watford), open play, 0.02 xG, goal 88’ G. Chakvetadze (Watford), from a corner, 0.02 xG, off target 4’ B. Jun-Ho (Stoke), set piece, 0.02 xG, blocked 46’ T. Rigo (Stoke), from a corner, 0.02 xG, blocked 7’ E. Bocat (Stoke), from a corner, 0.01 xG, off target 90+6’ T. Rigo (Stoke), open play, 0.01 xG, saved 61’ M. Bola (Watford), from a corner, 0.01 xG, off target 21’ I. Louza (Watford), open play, 0.43 xG, off target 15’ T. Ince (Watford), open play, 0.36 xG, saved 46’ M. Talovierov (Stoke), from a corner, 0.29 xG, off target 77’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), open play, 0.21 xG, saved 49’ S. Mfuni (Watford), from a corner, 0.20 xG, off target 10’ T. Ince (Watford), open play, 0.18 xG, blocked 74’ S. Gallagher (Stoke), open play, 0.17 xG, saved 15’ S. Goglichidze (Watford), set piece, 0.17 xG, off target 59’ M. Smit (Stoke), open play, 0.16 xG, off target 52’ A. Phillips (Stoke), set piece, 0.14 xG, saved 58’ S. Mfuni (Watford), from a corner, 0.13 xG, off target 77’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), open play, 0.12 xG, goal 88’ E. Kayembe (Watford), open play, 0.10 xG, saved 31’ I. Louza (Watford), open play, 0.09 xG, blocked 28’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), open play, 0.09 xG, goal 85’ S. Gallagher (Stoke), open play, 0.09 xG, goal 23’ T. Rigo (Stoke), open play, 0.08 xG, saved 18’ G. Chakvetadze (Watford), direct free kick, 0.06 xG, blocked 63’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), open play, 0.06 xG, saved 34’ T. Rigo (Stoke), open play, 0.05 xG, saved 1’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), open play, 0.05 xG, blocked 10’ E. Kayembe (Watford), open play, 0.05 xG, off target 20’ Unknown (Stoke), from a corner, 0.05 xG, saved 28’ M. Manhoef (Stoke), open play, 0.04 xG, saved 46’ E. Kayembe (Watford), open play, 0.04 xG, saved 53’ I. Louza (Watford), open play, 0.03 xG, blocked 66’ Unknown (Stoke), open play, 0.03 xG, off target 81’ N. Irankunda (Watford), open play, 0.02 xG, goal 88’ G. Chakvetadze (Watford), from a corner, 0.02 xG, off target 46’ T. Rigo (Stoke), from a corner, 0.02 xG, blocked 4’ B. Jun-Ho (Stoke), set piece, 0.02 xG, blocked 7’ E. Bocat (Stoke), from a corner, 0.01 xG, off target 90+6’ T. Rigo (Stoke), open play, 0.01 xG, saved 61’ M. Bola (Watford), from a corner, 0.01 xG, off target
Size shows xG Goal On target Off target or blocked

Hover or tap a shot for the player, minute and xG.

Lineups

Stoke 4-2-3-1 Starting XI
Simkin
Tchamadeu
Talovierov
Phillips
Bocat 70’
Nzonzi
Rigo
Manhoef 2
Jun-Ho 79’
Thomas
Smit 71’
Watford 4-4-2 Starting XI
Selvik
Abankwah
Goglichidze
Mfuni 86’
Bola
Ince 71’
Louza 86’
Mendy
Chakvetadze
Kayembe
Semedo 62’

Player stats

Goalkeeper1 player
T. Simkin
90′ 3 1 37 2 – – –
Defenders5 players
90′ 2 3 – 3 – 18 – – – –
90′ 3 1 – 8 4 34 1 – –
90′ – – – 3 3 42 1 – – –
70′ 1 2 – 4 – 41 – – – –
B. Gibson Came on as a substitute
20′ – – – 1 1 3 1 – – –
Midfielders8 players
S. Nzonzi
90′ – – – – –
T. Rigo
90′ – – 24 2 – 2 4 4 1 1
79′ 2 – 14 1 – – – 3 2 1 –
79′ – – 20 1 – – 1 4 – 1 –
90′ – – – –
B. Pearson Came on as a substitute
11′ – – 2 – – 1 – 1 – – –
J. Rak-Sakyi Came on as a substitute
11′ – – 2 1 – – – – – – –
T. Seko Came on as a substitute
14′ – – – – – – 1 – – – –
Forwards2 players
M. Smit
71′ – 1 1 – 0.16 – 3 2 – 9 –
S. Gallagher Came on as a substitute
19′ 1 – 2 2 0.26 – – 5 – 9 –
Came on Taken off Sent off Red is the most in that position for the team

Every player who took the pitch, starters first and then substitutes. A dash means none. xG and xA are expected goals and assists. A blank cell means that figure is not available for that player.

Before kick-off

Stoke win 35% Avg odds 2.69
Draw 28% Avg odds 3.28
Watford win 37% Avg odds 2.56

Chances implied by the average closing odds, with the bookmaker margin removed.

Form going into the game

Last five league games before this one, oldest first. Select one to open it.

Previous and next meeting

Shots, expected goals, timeline, lineups, team and player statistics from Bzzoiro Sports Data (sports.bzzoiro.com). Results and odds from football-data.co.uk.