Championship 26/27 · 8 Sep 2026

Watford 2–1 Preston North End

Expected and what happened

Before the match, from team ratings for Aug 2026; the outlined result is what happened.

Footybot made Watford favourites at 56%.

Watford won although Preston North End made the better chances (2.5 xG to 1.3): a result the chances didn't back.

Best on the pitch by Footybot's score: Callum Lang, 60.6 in 75′.

Well above their usual level: Callum Lang +23.5, Andrija Vukčević +9.7, Harry Clarke +8.8.

Each side's last five results before this match.

5 Sep 2026	L 0–1	at West Bromwich Albion Championship
1 Sep 2026	L 0–2	at Swansea City Championship
29 Aug 2026	D 1–1	v West Ham United Championship
25 Aug 2026	L 1–5	v Peterborough United EFL Cup
22 Aug 2026	D 1–1	at Wrexham Championship

5 Sep 2026	W 2–1	v Blackburn Rovers Championship
1 Sep 2026	L 1–3	v Bristol City Championship
29 Aug 2026	L 0–1	at Charlton Athletic Championship
26 Aug 2026	L 0–4	v Everton EFL Cup
22 Aug 2026	L 1–3	v Wolverhampton Championship

14 Feb 2026	Preston North End 2–2 Watford Championship
25 Nov 2025	Watford 1–1 Preston North End Championship

Player	Min	G	A	xG	Score	vs usual
Luca Kjerrumgaard Forward	7	0	0	–	73.4	–
Federico Ravaglia Goalkeeper	95	0	0	–	56.8	+8.5
Soumaila Coulibaly Defender	95	0	0	–	47.4	+0.1
Amin Nabizada Forward	45	0	0	0.08	47.2	−0.1
Edo Kayembe Midfielder	95	1	0	0.42	44.9	+3.6
Mamadou Doumbia Forward	88	1	0	0.30	44.3	+3.5
Matthew Pollock Defender	95	0	0	0.07	44.0	+2.3
Iker Bravo Forward	50	0	1	0.02	43.6	−5.2
Stephy Mavididi Midfielder	50	0	0	–	39.0	+7.7
Hector Kyprianou Midfielder	95	0	0	–	32.0	−13.3
Jordan Zemura Midfielder	34	0	0	–	31.5	–
Martín Payero Midfielder	45	0	0	–	31.3	−14.1
Rocco Vata Forward	45	0	0	0.07	31.1	−18.2
Othmane Maamma Midfielder	50	0	0	–	30.1	−7.9
Omar Haktab Traore Defender	61	0	0	0.03	21.8	−15.7
Kévin Keben Biakolo Defender	95	0	0	0.26	19.6	−22.5

Player	Min	G	xG	Score	vs usual
Callum Lang Forward	75	1	1.39	60.6	+23.5
Stanley Mills Midfielder	29	0	–	56.9	–
Jusef Erabi Forward	20	0	0.40	52.6	–
Jordan Storey Defender	95	0	–	48.7	+5.0
Alfie Devine Midfielder	82	0	0.14	45.0	+5.8
Delano Burgzorg Forward	29	0	0.14	42.4	–
Harry Clarke Midfielder	95	0	0.17	42.3	+8.8
Odeluga Offiah Defender	95	0	–	41.4	+8.5
Jordan Thompson Midfielder	95	0	0.04	41.1	+4.9
Lewis Gibson Defender	95	0	–	40.7	+5.9
Leo Leroy Midfielder	75	0	0.02	40.0	−3.9
Daniel Iversen Goalkeeper	95	0	–	39.3	−3.6
Johnny Kenny Forward	66	0	0.18	37.0	−5.5
Andrija Vukčević Defender	66	0	–	36.4	+9.7
Liam Gibbs Midfielder	20	0	–	34.6	–
Thierry Small Midfielder	13	0	–	26.5	–