Watford vs Preston match stats & report

2–1 Full time

Championship · England · Regular Season - 6 · Vicarage Road, Watford · Ref Farai Hallam, England

Watford stats & fixtures · Preston stats & fixtures

Watford beat Preston 2–1 in the Championship on 8 September 2026. Expected goals finished 1.26–2.44. Watford had 61% of the ball.

Watford vs Preston match statistics

WatfordPreston

61% Ball possession 39%
1.26 Expected goals (xG) 2.44
15 Total shots 18
5 Shots on target 6
7 Shots off target 6
3 Blocked shots 6
11 Shots inside the box 10
2 Corners 4
7 Fouls 10
2 Offsides 1
0 Yellow cards 2
526 Passes 319
83% Pass accuracy 76%
5 Goalkeeper saves 3

Goals and cards

5' Goal C. Lang Preston
62' Yellow card A. Vukčević Preston
67' Yellow card L. Gibson Preston
69' Goal E. Kayembe Watford
76' Goal M. Doumbia (assist Iker Bravo) Watford

The Ghost's call

The Ghost made no call on this match before kickoff.

Team news & lineups

Watford

Confirmed 4-2-3-1 Alessio Dionisi

1 F. Ravaglia

23 O. H. Traore 3 S. Coulibaly 6 M. Pollock 4 K. Keben

5 H. Kyprianou 39 E. Kayembe

11 R. Vata 22 M. Payero 21 Amin Nabizada

20 M. Doumbia

Bench Sam Walker , D. Bachmann , J. Zemura , A. Eames , S. Mavididi , L. Kjerrumgaard , Iker Bravo , O. Maamma

Preston

Confirmed 5-3-2 Paul Heckingbottom

1 D. Iversen

3 A. Vukčević 19 L. Gibson 14 J. Storey 24 O. Offiah 4 H. Clarke

7 A. Devine 15 J. Thompson 27 L. Leroy

38 J. Kenny 10 C. Lang

Bench L. Nicholls , C. Wiley , L. Lindsay , T. Small , A. Moran , L. Gibbs , S. Mills , D. Burgzorg , J. Erabi

Out and doubtful

A. McCann Preston Out — Injury
J. Ngakia Watford Out — Thigh Injury
K. Baah Watford Out — Knock
M. Bola Watford Out — Hamstring Injury
A. Hughes Preston Out — Inactive
B. Potts Preston Out — Ankle Injury
T. Carroll Preston Out — Ankle Injury
B. Mlacic Watford Out — Inactive
J. Grieves Watford Out — Lacking Match Fitness
M. Boadu Watford Out — Injury
T. Akomeah Watford Out — Lacking Match Fitness

Only confirmed absences move the numbers. Doubts are listed so you can judge them yourself.

Form guide

Watford at home

4–1–5 in 10 matches

Scored: 1.1 per game
Conceded: 1.6 per game
Clean sheets: 2 / 10
Corners: 4.0 per game
Shots on target: 4.8 per game

36% of their goals arrive after the 75th minute.

Preston away

0–1–9 in 10 matches

Scored: 0.9 per game
Conceded: 2.5 per game
Clean sheets: 0 / 10
Corners: 3.0 per game
Shots on target: 2.5 per game

11% of their goals arrive after the 75th minute.

Watford vs Preston head-to-head

Date	Match	Score
14 Feb 26	Preston v Watford	2–2
25 Nov 25	Watford v Preston	1–1
21 Jan 25	Watford v Preston	1–2
2 Oct 24	Preston v Watford	3–0
6 Apr 24	Watford v Preston	0–0
16 Dec 23	Preston v Watford	1–5

The full Watford vs Preston head-to-head record