Sunday , 16 August 2026

Middlesbrough FC vs Watford FC, Championship 2025-26 REGULAR SEASON

Championship · 2025-26
Middlesbrough FC
5 – 1
Full Time
Watford FC
Sat 25 Apr 2026 · 11:30 UTC Riverside Stadium HT 45' · FT 45'
Y 74' James Abankwah
Y 85' Imran Louza
Aidan Morris 85' Y

Overview

Match Preview

Middlesbrough FC vs Watford FC — Championship at Riverside Stadium.

Match Details

  • Referee Adam Herczeg

Standings

# Team P Pts
1 Coventry City FC 46 95
2 Ipswich Town FC 46 84
3 Hull City AFC 46 73
4 Oxford United FC 46 47
5 Leicester City FC 46 46
6 Blackburn Rovers FC 1 1
7 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1 1
8 Queens Park Rangers FC 0 0
9 Millwall FC 0 0
10 Middlesbrough FC 0 0
11 Swansea City AFC 0 0
12 Charlton Athletic FC 0 0
13 West Bromwich Albion FC 0 0
14 Bolton Wanderers FC 0 0
15 Birmingham City FC 0 0
16 Sheffield United FC 0 0
17 Southampton FC 0 0
18 Wrexham AFC 0 0
19 Watford FC 0 0
20 Burnley FC 0 0
21 Cardiff City FC 0 0
22 West Ham United FC 0 0
23 Derby County FC 0 0
24 Norwich City FC 0 0
25 Preston North End FC 0 0
26 Stoke City FC 0 0
27 Lincoln City FC 0 0
28 Portsmouth FC 0 0
29 Bristol City FC 0 0
30 Sheffield Wednesday FC 46 0

Head-to-Head

4
1
5
Middlesbrough FC 10 games · Avg 3.0 goals Watford FC
Last 5 meetings
2026-04-25 Middlesbrough FC 5–1 Watford FC 2025-11-01 Watford FC 3–0 Middlesbrough FC 2025-02-15 Middlesbrough FC 0–1 Watford FC 2024-10-05 Watford FC 2–1 Middlesbrough FC 2024-05-04 Middlesbrough FC 3–1 Watford FC

Recent Form

Middlesbrough FC
DateOpponentH/A ScoreResult
25 Apr Watford FC H 5–1 W
22 Apr Sheffield Wednesday FC H 1–0 W
19 Apr Ipswich Town FC A 2–2 D
11 Apr Portsmouth FC H 0–1 L
06 Apr Swansea City AFC A 2–2 D
03 Apr Millwall FC H 1–2 L
Watford FC
DateOpponentH/A ScoreResult
25 Apr Middlesbrough FC A 1–5 L
21 Apr West Bromwich Albion FC A 0–3 L
18 Apr Sheffield United FC H 0–2 L
11 Apr Oxford United FC A 0–2 L
06 Apr Charlton Athletic FC H 1–1 D
03 Apr Queens Park Rangers FC A 1–2 L

Season Stats

Middlesbrough FC Watford FC
#10 Position #19
0 Points 0
0 Played 0
0 / 0 / 0 W / D / L 0 / 0 / 0
0 Scored 0
0 Conceded 0
+0 GD +0
– PPG –
– Win % –

Key Stats

60% Both Teams to Score
H2H (10 games)
60% Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
0% Clean Sheets
Middlesbrough FC this season

Middlesbrough FC are 10th (0 pts). Watford FC are 19th (0 pts).

Goal Timing (This Season)

Middlesbrough FC
0-15
–/1
16-30
–/–
31-45
–/–
46-60
–/–
61-75
1/–
76+
1/–
■ Scored ■ Conceded

Events

Match Events

  • 0' The match kicks off with home fans waiting with anticipation for Middlesbrough FC to score. At the same time, Watford FC does not seem to pull back! Let’s get it on!
  • 5' A quiet spell here at Riverside Stadium. Watford FC seem content sitting deep and soaking up pressure.
  • 6' A stunning finish from Morgan Whittaker — that came from absolutely nowhere!
  • 11' Players seem to put ease on their energy level Spectators hardly appreciate such approach. Teams need to speed up the tempo.
  • 16' Middlesbrough FC started playing very sharply right from the kick off. However, it slowed down the tempo rapidly by 16.
  • 21' named a earlier, and opted for a in response. A fascinating tactical duel is developing.
  • 26' It looks like no one’s ball. Watford FC is used to counterattacking playing. None of the sides are ready to take the lead.
  • 31' Spectators do not have much to choose from both teams. The sides had several scoring chances but they still need a bit more than just a sight of a goal.
  • 36' Over 36 minutes have gone by without a meaningful attack. The supporters want more.
  • 41' The home supporters are growing impatient. Middlesbrough FC must find a spark to ignite this game.
  • 46' David Strelec does the damage! The net is bulging and Middlesbrough FC surge ahead!
  • 46' The Middlesbrough FC bench stirs into life. Alex Bangura is withdrawn and Matt Targett gets his opportunity.
  • 48' Clinical. Composed. Brilliant. James Abankwah makes it 2-1.
  • 53' Egil Selvik has certainly something to prove this evening. He made 0 appearances with only 0 goals this season.
  • 58' Morgan Whittaker doubles the advantage! 3-1 and this game is slipping away from the opposition.
  • 62' A change in the Watford FC ranks — Jeremy Ngakia exits the field as Othmane Maamma enters on 62.
  • 63' Time for substitution for Middlesbrough FC. Adilson Malanda is replaced by Dael Fry.
  • 64' A tactical swap from Middlesbrough FC — Leo Castledine on, Sontje Hansen off on 64 minutes.
  • 69' A tactical chess match is unfolding here. The question is which manager blinks first.
  • 74' Poor challenge from James Abankwah. The referee spots it immediately and shows the card.
  • 75' Tommy Conway doubles the advantage! 4-1 and this game is slipping away from the opposition.
  • 80' While there is no rush on the pitch, let’s have a look at some stats. Edo Kayembe made 390 appearances and scored 17 goals. He is very likely to score a goal today.
  • 82' Time for substitution for Watford FC. Marc Bola is replaced by Tom Ince.
  • 83' Sam Silvera is ready to make an impact after coming on for Jeremy Sarmiento at the 83 minute mark.
  • 85' The referee does not hesitate — a card for Imran Louza on 85 minutes.
  • 90' Middlesbrough FC are deployed in a today, looking to exploit space against Watford FC's shape.
  • It finishes all square. Middlesbrough FC and Watford FC share the spoils 5-1.

Lineups

Middlesbrough FC Lineups

Starting XI

Bench

Coach Kim Hellberg

Watford FC Lineups

Starting XI

Bench

Coach Edward Still

H2H

H2H Top Scorers

PlayerGoals
Ismaila Sarr 3
Vakoun Issouf Bayo 2
Riley McGree 2
Morgan Whittaker 2
Tommy Conway 2
Wesley Hoedt 2
Emmanuel Latte Lath 1
Craig Cathcart 1

Head to Head

2026-04-25 Middlesbrough FC 5–1 Watford FC 2025-11-01 Watford FC 3–0 Middlesbrough FC 2025-02-15 Middlesbrough FC 0–1 Watford FC 2024-10-05 Watford FC 2–1 Middlesbrough FC 2024-05-04 Middlesbrough FC 3–1 Watford FC

Middlesbrough FC Form

2026-04-25 Middlesbrough FC 5–1 Watford FC W 2026-04-22 Middlesbrough FC 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday FC W 2026-04-19 Ipswich Town FC 2–2 Middlesbrough FC D 2026-04-11 Middlesbrough FC 0–1 Portsmouth FC L 2026-04-06 Swansea City AFC 2–2 Middlesbrough FC D 2026-04-03 Middlesbrough FC 1–2 Millwall FC L

Watford FC Form

2026-04-25 Middlesbrough FC 5–1 Watford FC L 2026-04-21 West Bromwich Albion FC 3–0 Watford FC L 2026-04-18 Watford FC 0–2 Sheffield United FC L 2026-04-11 Oxford United FC 2–0 Watford FC L 2026-04-06 Watford FC 1–1 Charlton Athletic FC D 2026-04-03 Queens Park Rangers FC 2–1 Watford FC L

Predictions

Prediction accuracy
1 / 4
1.23 Middlesbrough FC xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
0.54 Watford FC xG
I would bet for: Under 2.5 goals 74% + Under — clean sheet likely 69%

Match Result

✓ Correct
Middlesbrough FC53% Draw30% Watford FC17%
Actual: Middlesbrough FC win

Both Teams to Score

✗ Wrong
Yes31% 0% No69%
Avg goals/match: 1.77
Actual: Yes — both scored

Over / Under Goals

✗ O/U 2.5
Line Over Under
± 0.5 81%
19%
± 1.5 53%
47%
± 2.5 26%
74%
± 3.5 11%
89%
± 4.5 4%
96%

Double Chance

Middlesbrough FC or Draw
83%
Draw or Watford FC
47%
Middlesbrough FC or Watford FC
70%

Half-Time Result

✗ Wrong
Middlesbrough FC33% Draw57% Watford FC10%
Actual: Middlesbrough FC win at HT

Correct Score

✗ 5–1 not predicted
5 – 1
Actual
1 – 0
19.8%
0 – 0
19.5%
2 – 0
12.3%
1 – 1
12.1%
0 – 1
7.8%
2 – 1
6.9%
3 – 0
5%
3 – 1
3%
1 – 2
2.9%
0 – 2
2.2%
2 – 2
2%
4 – 0
1.6%

Asian Handicap — Middlesbrough FC

Handicap Middlesbrough FC covers Push Watford FC covers
-2.5 8% — 92%
-2 8% 16% 76%
-1.5 24% — 76%
-1 24% 28% 48%
-0.5 52% — 48%
+0.5 85% — 15%
+1 85% 11% 3%
+1.5 97% — 3%
+2 97% 3% 1%
+2.5 99% — 1%

Clean Sheet

Middlesbrough FC keeps clean sheet
59% ✗
Watford FC keeps clean sheet
30% ✓

Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.