Stoke vs Watford predictions: Resurgent Hornets can punish the Potters
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- Watford have won five of their last seven league matches against Stoke
- Stoke have lost three of their last four fixtures
- Recommended bet: Watford draw no bet
Stoke were a Premier League club for 10 successive seasons between 2008 and 2018 but they have been dragged into the Championship relegation scrap and will be desperate to stop the rot when hosting ninth-placed Watford at the bet365 Stadium.
Despite continuous healthy investment, Stoke seem to be on a downward spiral with only two league victories recorded from the last 10 games.
Mark Robins saw his side lose 3-1 at home to Middlesbrough on Tuesday and they are five points above the bottom three with 12 games remaining.
While the Potters are keen to hang onto their second-tier status, Watford have an interest in the play-off battle.
The Hornets won 2-0 at home to bitter rivals Luton last Sunday and are sitting just three points outside the top six.
Team news
Ali Al-Hamadi sat out Stoke’s midweek loss to Middlesbrough with a groin problem and Wouter Burger (knee) has missed the last two matches. The duo will need to be assessed but Ben Gibson, Sol Sidibe, Ryan Mmaee, Lynden Gooch and Josh Wilson-Esbrand are definite absentees.
Watford have had some positive news on the injury front with Moussa Sissoko returning to full training and Kevin Abankwaah, Giorgi Chakvetadze and Yaser Larouci recovering from minor injuries sustained in last Sunday’s 2-0 win at home to Luton.
However, Kevin Keben (muscle strain) has joined Caleb Wiley, Pierre Dwomoh, Daniel Bachman and Kwadwo Baah on the injured list.
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The stats
Stoke have conceded at least two goals in four of their last five matches.
Both teams have scored in five of Stoke’s last six fixtures.
The Potters have kept only one clean sheet in their last 10 games.
Watford have lost only one of their last five away fixtures.
The Hornets have scored less than three goals in each of their last 22 matches.
Watford have won their last two games, against Middlesbrough and Luton, to nil.
Prediction
Watford have reignited their play-off push with back-to-back wins and they can ramp up the pressure on their fellow top-six chasers by defeating Stoke in the Potteries.
Tom Cleverley’s Hornets made a choppy start to 2025 but they stopped the rot with a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough and followed that up with an impressive 2-0 triumph at home to Luton.
Winning the derby in such convincing fashion was a major boost for Watford, who are heading to Stoke with another victory in their sights.
Stoke moved onto their third manager of the season on New Year’s Day by appointing Mark Robins on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
However, they have continued to struggle and may be unable to cope with a rejuvenated Watford side on a mission to extend their campaign.
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