Wednesday , 30 September 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
5 games this season 🟨 3.2/game ⚽ 11.8 goals/game

Standings

# Team P Pts
1 Swansea City AFC 8 17
2 West Ham United FC 8 15
3 Middlesbrough FC 8 15
4 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 7 14
5 West Bromwich Albion FC 8 14
6 Queens Park Rangers FC 8 13
7 Stoke City FC 8 13
8 Bristol City FC 8 13
9 Charlton Athletic FC 8 12
10 Birmingham City FC 8 11
11 Millwall FC 8 11
12 Lincoln City FC 8 11
13 Southampton FC 8 10
14 Wrexham AFC 8 10
15 Bolton Wanderers FC 8 10
16 Blackburn Rovers FC 8 9
17 Norwich City FC 8 9
18 Sheffield United FC 8 9
19 Portsmouth FC 7 8
20 Watford FC 8 8
21 Cardiff City FC 8 7
22 Derby County FC 8 5
23 Preston North End FC 8 4
24 Burnley FC 8 4

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
#3 Position #20
15 Points 8
8 Played 8
4 / 3 / 1 W / D / L 2 / 2 / 4
16 Scored 7
12 Conceded 10
+4 GD -3
1.88 PPG 1.00
50% Win % 25%

Key Stats

60% Both Teams to Score
H2H (10 games)
60% Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
13% Clean Sheets
Middlesbrough FC this season
0% Clean Sheets
Watford FC this season

Middlesbrough FC are 3rd (15 pts). Watford FC are 20th (8 pts).

Goal Timing (This Season)

Middlesbrough FC
0-15
3/3
16-30
2/–
31-45
2/1
46-60
2/4
61-75
3/3
76+
4/–
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Watford FC
0-15
2/2
16-30
2/2
31-45
–/3
46-60
–/2
61-75
1/–
76+
2/–
■ Scored ■ Conceded

Top Scorers (This Season)

Middlesbrough FC
William Lankshear 6 G
Watford FC
Amin Nabizada 3 G
Iker Bravo 1 G
Luca Kjerrumgaard 1 G

Events

Match Events

  • 0' The game is set. Middlesbrough FC kicks off things out of here…
  • 5' Watford FC is showing some good football. However, Watford FC are ready to play back every minute. It might result in some problems for the home side. The game will hardly remain goalless.
  • 6' Morgan Whittaker doubles the advantage! 1-0 and this game is slipping away from the opposition.
  • 11' The 25-year-old Solomon Brynn has been sensational this season — 0 goals and 0 assists is a remarkable return.
  • 16' It is a cagey affair so far. Middlesbrough FC in their trying to find a way past Watford FC's compact .
  • 21' The tempo has dropped considerably in the last few minutes. Edward Still will be considering his options from the bench.
  • 26' Watford FC are happy to let the opposition have the ball in their own half. The trap is set.
  • 31' Although teams showed high tempo form the start, they seem to slow down a bit. Both sides really need to catch a fire. Otherwise, we have another goalless match.
  • 36' A moment of individual brilliance could settle this. Both teams are waiting for that decisive action.
  • 41' Both keepers have barely been tested. Middlesbrough FC and Watford FC are cancelling each other out in the centre of the park.
  • 46' What a moment for David Strelec! That strike on 45 puts his side firmly in control.
  • 46' The whistle greets Alex Bangura as he departs to be replaced by Matt Targett.
  • 48' James Abankwah is having a superb {COMPETITION} campaign — that is 1 goals this season for the defender.
  • 53' Watford FC fans have not had much to celebrate tonight. Their side is struggling to get forward.
  • 58' The England Morgan Whittaker breaks the deadlock on 58 minutes. 3-1!
  • 62' Othmane Maamma is ready to make an impact after coming on for Jeremy Ngakia at the 62 minute mark.
  • 63' Another substitution for Middlesbrough FC to replace Adilson Malanda by Dael Fry on 63 minute.
  • 64' The supporters are chanting for Leo Castledine. He replaces Sontje Hansen on 64 minute.
  • 69' We miss some good tackles and strikes. Is there anyone on the field to put the game back to action?
  • 74' Watford FC player sees a card in front of him.
  • 75' Magnificent from Tommy Conway! That is 40 goals in 395 appearances — and it could not have come at a better time.
  • 80' The travelling Watford FC supporters hardly appreciate their team being pressed down to the backline.
  • 82' Marc Bola makes way for Tom Ince at the 82 minute mark. A tactical switch from Watford FC.
  • 83' The crowd applauds Jeremy Sarmiento as he leaves the pitch. Sam Silvera steps in for Middlesbrough FC.
  • 85' Imran Louza catches the referee's attention in entirely the wrong way. card on 85.
  • 90' Matchday of the Array and both teams know exactly what is at stake tonight.
  • Middlesbrough FC celebrates a vital win. Three points that could prove pivotal come season's end.

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
Riley McGree 2
Morgan Whittaker 2
Tommy Conway 2
Wesley Hoedt 2
Vakoun Issouf Bayo 2
Kwadwo Baah 1
Marcus Forss 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
4 / 4
2.22 Middlesbrough FC xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
0.97 Watford FC xG
I would bet for: Middlesbrough FC to win 61% + Over 2.5 goals 61%

Match Result

✓ Correct
Middlesbrough FC61% Draw22% Watford FC17%
Actual: Middlesbrough FC win

Both Teams to Score

✓ Correct
Yes55% 0% No45%
Avg goals/match: 3.19
Actual: Yes — both scored

Over / Under Goals

✓ O/U 2.5
Line Over Under
± 0.5 94%
6%
± 1.5 82%
18%
± 2.5 61%
39%
± 3.5 39%
61%
± 4.5 22%
78%

Double Chance

Middlesbrough FC or Draw
83%
Draw or Watford FC
39%
Middlesbrough FC or Watford FC
78%

Half-Time Result

✓ Correct
Middlesbrough FC46% Draw40% Watford FC14%
Actual: Middlesbrough FC win at HT

Correct Score

✗ 5–1 not predicted
5 – 1
Actual
2 – 0
10.1%
1 – 1
9.7%
2 – 1
9.5%
1 – 0
8.7%
3 – 0
7.2%
3 – 1
7%
0 – 0
5.6%
2 – 2
4.6%
1 – 2
4.2%
4 – 0
4%
4 – 1
3.9%
3 – 2
3.5%

Asian Handicap — Middlesbrough FC

Handicap Middlesbrough FC covers Push Watford FC covers
-2.5 22% — 78%
-2 22% 19% 58%
-1.5 42% — 58%
-1 42% 22% 36%
-0.5 64% — 36%
+0.5 85% — 15%
+1 85% 9% 5%
+1.5 95% — 5%
+2 95% 4% 1%
+2.5 99% — 1%

Clean Sheet

Middlesbrough FC keeps clean sheet
38% ✓
Watford FC keeps clean sheet
12% ✓

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