Match report

Stoke City Defeats Watford 3-1 in Championship Clash

Stoke City
Stoke City
3–1
FT
Watford
Watford
Mar 14, 2026

Stoke City stuns Watford with a 3-1 victory in the Championship, with M. Manhoef and S. Gallagher leading the charge. Watford's N. Irankunda found the back of the net, but it wasn't enough to secure a point for the visitors.

Key Facts

  • • Stoke City defeats Watford 3-1 in the Championship
  • • M. Manhoef scores two goals for Stoke City
  • • S. Gallagher scores for Stoke City
  • • N. Irankunda finds the net for Watford
  • • Stoke City receives multiple yellow cards, including T. Rigo, S. Thomas, Maksym Talovierov, and T. Simkin

Lineups

Stoke City

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 25 T. Simkin (G)
  • 22 J. Tchamadeu (D)
  • 40 M. Talovierov (D)
  • 26 A. Phillips (D)
  • 17 E. Bocat (D)
  • 15 S. N'Zonzi (M)
  • 19 T. Rigo (M)
  • 42 M. Manhoef (M)
  • 10 J. Bae (M)
  • 7 S. Thomas (M)
  • 49 M. Smit (F)

Substitutes

  • 34 F. Fielding
  • 4 B. Pearson
  • 12 T. Seko
  • 29 L. Cisse
  • 23 B. Gibson
  • 20 S. Gallagher
  • 21 J. Rak-Sakyi
  • 50 S. Agina
  • 59 G. Kelly

Watford

Formation: 4-4-2

Starting XI

  • 1 E. Selvik (G)
  • 25 J. Abankwah (D)
  • 3 S. Goglichidze (D)
  • 21 S. Mfuni (D)
  • 16 M. Bola (D)
  • 7 T. Ince (M)
  • 10 I. Louza (M)
  • 23 N. Mendy (M)
  • 8 G. Chakvetadze (M)
  • 39 E. Kayembe (F)
  • 18 V. Semedo (F)

Substitutes

  • 12 N. Baxter
  • 15 E. Bove
  • 6 M. Pollock
  • 4 K. Keben
  • 9 L. Kjerrumgaard
  • 64 J. Lawson
  • 17 P. Ekwah
  • 66 N. Irankunda
  • 53 A. Nabizada

Timeline

  1. Stoke City
    17' Stoke City Card · Yellow Card
    T. Rigo

    Foul

  2. Stoke City
    28' Stoke City Goal · Normal Goal
    M. Manhoef · Assist: M. Smit
  3. Stoke City
    50' Stoke City Card · Yellow Card
    S. Thomas

    Foul

  4. Watford
    51' Watford Card · Yellow Card
    N. Mendy

    Foul

  5. Stoke City
    60' Stoke City Card · Yellow Card
    Maksym Talovierov

    Foul

  6. Watford
    62' Watford subst · Substitution 1
    Off: V. Semedo · On: N. Irankunda
  7. Stoke City
    70' Stoke City subst · Substitution 1
    Off: E. Bocat · On: B. Gibson
  8. Watford
    71' Watford subst · Substitution 2
    Off: T. Ince · On: J. Lawson
  9. Watford
    71' Watford subst · Substitution 3
    Off: N. Mendy · On: P. Ekwah
  10. Stoke City
    72' Stoke City Card · Yellow Card
    Tommy Simkin

    Time wasting

  11. Stoke City
    77' Stoke City Goal · Normal Goal
    M. Manhoef
  12. Stoke City
    79' Stoke City subst · Substitution 3
    Off: J. Bae · On: B. Pearson
  13. Stoke City
    79' Stoke City subst · Substitution 4
    Off: M. Manhoef · On: J. Rak-Sakyi
  14. Watford
    81' Watford Goal · Normal Goal
    N. Irankunda · Assist: G. Chakvetadze
  15. Stoke City
    83' Stoke City subst · Substitution 5
    Off: S. N'Zonzi · On: T. Seko
  16. Stoke City
    85' Stoke City Goal · Normal Goal
    S. Gallagher · Assist: S. Thomas
  17. Watford
    86' Watford subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Stephen Mfuni · On: E. Bove
  18. Watford
    86' Watford subst · Substitution 5
    Off: I. Louza · On: L. Kjerrumgaard
  19. Watford
    90'+3 Watford Card · Yellow Card
    N. Irankunda

Match Stats

Stat Stoke City Watford
Fouls 11 13
Pass Accuracy 71% 78%
Offsides 2 0
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 19 15
Corners 6 7
Total Passes 318 391
Yellow Cards 4 2
Blocked Shots 3 4
Shots on Target 12 4
xG 1.66 1.83
Shots off Target 4 7
Possession 45% 55%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 227 306
Shots Inside Box 13 9
Saves 3 9
Shots Outside Box 6 6

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Stoke City's early goal by M. Manhoef in the 28th minute sets the tone for the match, providing a crucial lead
  • ▸ Watford's response with a goal by N. Irankunda in the 81st minute is too late, as Stoke City already holds a two-goal advantage
  • ▸ Stoke City's third goal by S. Gallagher in the 85th minute secures the victory and puts any hopes of a comeback to rest