Middlesbrough v Watford prediction

Championship · Sat, 30 Jan 2027 15:00 GMT · Riverside Stadium

Updated 30 Jul 2026, 10:24 UK · refreshed continuously

Team pages: Middlesbrough · Watford · Head-to-head

TACTIX’s free model pick for Middlesbrough v Watford, Championship on Sat, 30 Jan 2027 15:00 GMT posts shortly before kick-off. Form, head-to-head and league standing for both sides are below.

Match preview, in numbers

The match

Middlesbrough host Watford in the Championship on Saturday 30 January (kick-off 15:00 UK).

Form and the table

10 of Middlesbrough’s last 15 results in all competitions went over 2.5 goals (67%). Both teams scored in nine of Middlesbrough’s last 15 results in all competitions (60%). At home, Middlesbrough have four wins, two draws and no defeats in their last 6 home matches in all competitions — 2.33 points per game, scoring 2.50 and conceding 1.33. Middlesbrough have scored 30 goals, the third-most of the 24 clubs (2026/27 so far, after 15 games). Middlesbrough have conceded 19 goals, the ninth-fewest (shared) of the 24 clubs.

Six of Watford’s last 15 results in all competitions went over 2.5 goals (40%). Both teams scored in seven of Watford’s last 15 results in all competitions (47%). Away from home, Watford have no wins, one draw and six defeats in their last 7 away matches in all competitions — 0.14 points per game, scoring 0.57 and conceding 2.00. Watford have scored 13 goals, the third-fewest (shared) of the 24 clubs (2026/27 so far, after 15 games). Watford have conceded 23 goals, the 12th-fewest (shared) of the 24 clubs.

Middlesbrough (second) and Watford (20th) are 14 points apart, 2026/27 so far. TACTIX’s Glicko-2 team ratings have Middlesbrough the stronger side, 281 rating points above Watford (Middlesbrough 1609, Watford 1329, after at least 245 rated matches each).

Head-to-head

The most recent meeting, on 7 November 2026, finished Watford 0–0 Middlesbrough.

Team news

Predicted Middlesbrough XI (4-2-3-1): R. Vítek, A. Phillips, A. Malanda, N. Borges, L. Ayling, A. Morris, S. Berhalter, R. McGree, A. Cozier-Duberry, C. Brittain, W. Lankshear — derived from the last 8 line-ups, most-used eleven. By TACTIX Impact, Aidan Morris (5.1 per match over 16 appearances, two goals) and Amario Cozier-Duberry (5.1 per match over 11 appearances, three goals and five assists) have been Middlesbrough’s most influential players 2026/27, all competitions. In numbers for Middlesbrough (2026/27, all competitions, before kick-off), Aidan Morris averages 1.1 key passes per 90 over 1420 minutes, with a key pass in five of the last 10 appearances. Amario Cozier-Duberry averages 2.5 key passes per 90 over 876 minutes, with a key pass in eight of the last 10 appearances.

Predicted Watford XI (5-3-2): F. Ravaglia, M. Pollock, K. Keben, B. Mlačić, O. Traoré, M. Bola, E. Kayembe, H. Kyprianou, I. Bravo, M. Boadu, M. Doumbia — derived from the last 8 line-ups, most-used eleven. By TACTIX Impact, Hector Kyprianou (3.3 per match over 16 appearances, one goal) and Iker Bravo (3.2 per match over 16 appearances, one goal and three assists) have been Watford’s most influential players 2026/27, all competitions. In numbers for Watford (2026/27, all competitions, before kick-off), Hector Kyprianou averages 0.6 key passes per 90 over 1681 minutes, with a key pass in four of the last 10 appearances. Iker Bravo averages 1.4 key passes per 90 over 1177 minutes, with a key pass in six of the last 10 appearances.

Written from the matches TACTIX holds for both sides; each figure names the games it is counted over.

The Numbers

Kick-off: Sat, 30 Jan 2027 15:00 GMT · Championship · Riverside Stadium
Head-to-head (last 6): Middlesbrough 2 · draws 1 · Watford 3 · 2.83 goals/game
Recent form: Middlesbrough 2W 2D 1L · Watford 2W 1D 2L

Middlesbrough v Watford (Championship): the key numbers are on this page — and TACTIX’s live, market-by-market track record is one click away (as of 30 July 2026). See the live track record →

Key Stats

2 / 0.75

Goals

against 1.13 / 1.75 · 3 of the last 5 over 2.5

over 8 matches

6.13 / 4

Corners

against 4.13 / 6 · 4 of the last 5 over 9.5

over 8 matches

6.88 / 3.88

Shots on target

against 2.5 / 5.13 · 2 of the last 5 over 8.5

over 8 matches

1.25 / 2.75

Cards

against 1.63 / 2.25 · 1 of the last 5 over 3.5

over 8 matches

Per game, last 8 completed matches, to 7 November 2026. Over/under figures use standard thresholds, not bookmaker lines.

Per game, last 8 played matches, friendlies left out, to 7 November 2026. Goals in a match that went to extra time count at the 90-minute score; its other figures are left out. Bars: for (mint) against (amber), scaled to the larger figure in the row. Over/under figures use standard thresholds, not bookmaker lines.
Per game	Middlesbrough for / against	Line	Watford for / against
Goals scored	2 for · 1.13 against n 8 Last 5	2.5standard	0.75 for · 1.75 against n 8 Last 5
Corners won	6.13 for · 4.13 against n 8 Last 5	9.5standard	4 for · 6 against n 8 Last 5
Shots	20 for · 10.5 against n 8 Last 5	19.5standard	12.25 for · 17.13 against n 8 Last 5
Shots on target	6.88 for · 2.5 against n 8 Last 5	8.5standard	3.88 for · 5.13 against n 8 Last 5
Fouls committed	9.13 for · 10.75 against n 8 Last 5	21.5standard	11.75 for · 12.13 against n 8 Last 5
Cards shown	1.25 for · 1.63 against n 8 Last 5	3.5standard	2.75 for · 2.25 against n 8 Last 5

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough Goalkeeper

Middlesbrough — Goalkeeper: season totals in played matches, friendlies left out, appearances of 15+ minutes; per 90 minutes under each figure; total minutes under the average, before kick-off.
Player	Apps	Avg mins	Saves	Goals conceded	Penalties saved
R. Vítek	15	901350 min	291.9 /90	171.1 /90	00 /90
S. Brynn	3	90270 min	82.7 /90	41.3 /90	00 /90

Middlesbrough — Goalkeeper saves: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Middlesbrough before kick-off, to 7 November 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 2+, lower cell 3+.
Player	Mins	Saves 2+3+
R. Vítek n 8	90	1.8 4/2
S. Brynn n 8	90	2.3 5/2

Middlesbrough Defensive

Middlesbrough — Defensive: season totals in played matches, friendlies left out, appearances of 15+ minutes; per 90 minutes under each figure; total minutes under the average, before kick-off.
Player	Apps	Avg mins	Tackles	Interceptions	Blocks	Duels won	Fouls committed	Yellow cards
C. Brittain	18	871563 min	331.9 /90	150.9 /90	40.2 /90	875 /90	160.9 /90	20.1 /90
A. Malanda	16	891427 min	161 /90	140.9 /90	60.4 /90	774.9 /90	90.6 /90	20.1 /90
Neto Borges	15	791188 min	171.3 /90	90.7 /90	60.5 /90	554.2 /90	120.9 /90	20.2 /90
L. Ayling	14	751043 min	181.6 /90	141.2 /90	50.4 /90	564.8 /90	60.5 /90	00 /90
A. Phillips	13	74957 min	131.2 /90	70.7 /90	50.5 /90	474.4 /90	70.7 /90	20.2 /90
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Middlesbrough — Discipline: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Middlesbrough before kick-off, to 7 November 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Fouls committed 1+2+	Fouls won 1+2+	Likely duel
C. Brittain n 8	90	0.4 3/0	0.4 2/1	—
Sebastian Berhalter n 8	63.5	1.6 5/3	1.1 5/1	—
A. Malanda n 8	90	0.4 3/0	0.1 1/0	—
A. Morris n 8	90	0.8 4/1	1.1 6/3	—
W. Lankshear n 8	80	1.1 5/2	1.4 6/3	—
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Middlesbrough — Tackles: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Middlesbrough before kick-off, to 7 November 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Tackles 1+2+
C. Brittain n 8	90	2 7/4
Sebastian Berhalter n 8	63.5	2.3 6/3
A. Malanda n 8	90	0.8 3/3
A. Morris n 8	90	4 8/7
W. Lankshear n 8	80	0 0/0
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Middlesbrough Attacking

Middlesbrough — Attacking: season totals in played matches, friendlies left out, appearances of 15+ minutes; per 90 minutes under each figure; total minutes under the average, before kick-off.
Player	Apps	Avg mins	Goals	Assists	Shots	Shots on target	Key passes	Dribbles completed
W. Lankshear	16	731169 min	151.2 /90	00 /90	423.2 /90	282.2 /90	131 /90	20.2 /90
K. Joseph	12	47569 min	10.2 /90	00 /90	152.4 /90	81.3 /90	71.1 /90	50.8 /90
J. Sarmiento	9	54487 min	20.4 /90	10.2 /90	132.4 /90	61.1 /90	71.3 /90	81.5 /90
D. Strelec	3	50151 min	00 /90	00 /90	21.2 /90	00 /90	42.4 /90	21.2 /90
Sebastian Berhalter	17	691176 min	30.2 /90	30.2 /90	201.5 /90	80.6 /90	443.4 /90	10.1 /90
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Middlesbrough — Shooting: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Middlesbrough before kick-off, to 7 November 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Shots 1+2+	Shots on target 1+2+
C. Brittain n 8	90	0.9 5/2	0.6 4/1
Sebastian Berhalter n 8	63.5	1.8 5/2	0.7 3/1
A. Malanda n 8	90	0.9 4/2	0.4 3/0
A. Morris n 8	90	1.3 5/4	0.8 4/2
W. Lankshear n 8	80	3.4 7/7	2.4 7/5
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Middlesbrough — Goalscoring: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Middlesbrough before kick-off, to 7 November 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Goals 1+2+	Assists 1+2+
C. Brittain n 8	90	0.1 1/0	0.1 1/0
Sebastian Berhalter n 8	63.5	0.2 1/0	0.2 1/0
A. Malanda n 8	90	0.1 1/0	0 0/0
A. Morris n 8	90	0.1 1/0	0 0/0
W. Lankshear n 8	80	1.1 6/2	0 0/0
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Watford

Watford Goalkeeper

Watford — Goalkeeper: season totals in played matches, friendlies left out, appearances of 15+ minutes; per 90 minutes under each figure; total minutes under the average, before kick-off.
Player	Apps	Avg mins	Saves	Goals conceded	Penalties saved
F. Ravaglia	16	911452 min	553.4 /90	201.2 /90	10.1 /90
D. Bachmann	1	9090 min	66 /90	55 /90	00 /90

Watford — Goalkeeper saves: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Watford before kick-off, to 7 November 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 2+, lower cell 3+.
Player	Mins	Saves 2+3+
F. Ravaglia n 8	90	3.8 7/7

Watford Defensive

Watford — Defensive: season totals in played matches, friendlies left out, appearances of 15+ minutes; per 90 minutes under each figure; total minutes under the average, before kick-off.
Player	Apps	Avg mins	Tackles	Interceptions	Blocks	Duels won	Fouls committed	Yellow cards
M. Pollock	16	911452 min	191.2 /90	211.3 /90	201.2 /90	704.3 /90	181.1 /90	30.2 /90
K. Keben	16	881407 min	211.3 /90	140.9 /90	140.9 /90	493.1 /90	140.9 /90	30.2 /90
J. Zemura	13	58754 min	161.9 /90	151.8 /90	20.2 /90	475.6 /90	131.6 /90	30.4 /90
O. Traoré	12	67798 min	111.2 /90	80.9 /90	20.2 /90	232.6 /90	91 /90	20.2 /90
M. Bola	8	54433 min	102.1 /90	71.5 /90	10.2 /90	316.4 /90	20.4 /90	00 /90
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Watford — Discipline: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Watford before kick-off, to 7 November 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Fouls committed 1+2+	Fouls won 1+2+	Likely duel
M. Pollock n 8	90	1 6/2	0.5 3/1	—
F. Ravaglia n 8	90	0 0/0	0.5 4/0	—
K. Keben n 8	90	1.1 6/2	0.5 3/1	—
Hector Kyprianou n 8	90	1 6/2	1.6 7/5	—
E. Kayembe n 8	90	1.1 5/4	0.6 4/1	—
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Watford — Tackles: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Watford before kick-off, to 7 November 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Tackles 1+2+
M. Pollock n 8	90	0.9 6/1
K. Keben n 8	90	1.1 6/2
Hector Kyprianou n 8	90	1.8 6/6
E. Kayembe n 8	90	1.8 7/5
Iker Bravo n 8	73.1	0.9 4/1
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Watford Attacking

Watford — Attacking: season totals in played matches, friendlies left out, appearances of 15+ minutes; per 90 minutes under each figure; total minutes under the average, before kick-off.
Player	Apps	Avg mins	Goals	Assists	Shots	Shots on target	Key passes	Dribbles completed
M. Doumbia	15	56844 min	20.2 /90	00 /90	181.9 /90	101.1 /90	101.1 /90	50.5 /90
L. Kjerrumgaard	10	60598 min	20.3 /90	00 /90	121.8 /90	40.6 /90	71.1 /90	20.3 /90
Rocco Vata	9	33295 min	00 /90	00 /90	113.4 /90	51.5 /90	72.1 /90	41.2 /90
M. Boadu	7	54379 min	20.5 /90	10.2 /90	81.9 /90	30.7 /90	30.7 /90	20.5 /90
S. Mavididi	7	42297 min	10.3 /90	00 /90	51.5 /90	20.6 /90	51.5 /90	82.4 /90
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Watford — Shooting: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Watford before kick-off, to 7 November 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Shots 1+2+	Shots on target 1+2+
M. Pollock n 8	90	0 0/0	0 0/0
F. Ravaglia n 8	90	0 0/0	0 0/0
K. Keben n 8	90	0.3 1/1	0 0/0
Hector Kyprianou n 8	90	0.8 5/1	0.4 3/0
E. Kayembe n 8	90	1.6 7/4	0.3 1/1
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Watford — Goalscoring: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Watford before kick-off, to 7 November 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Goals 1+2+	Assists 1+2+
M. Pollock n 8	90	0 0/0	0.1 1/0
F. Ravaglia n 8	90	0 0/0	0 0/0
K. Keben n 8	90	0 0/0	0 0/0
Hector Kyprianou n 8	90	0.1 1/0	0 0/0
E. Kayembe n 8	90	0 0/0	0 0/0
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Form, Head-to-Head & Standings

The numbers behind Middlesbrough v Watford — recent results, past meetings and where each side sits. (TACTIX’s model forecast is in the projections below.)

Recent form

MiddlesbroughDWWLD

Last 5: 2W 2D 1L · 2 scored / 1 conceded per game

WatfordWLLWD

Last 5: 2W 1D 2L · 1 scored / 0.8 conceded per game

Head-to-head last 6

Middlesbrough 2 · 1 draw · Watford 3 · 2.83 goals/game

2026-11-07 Watford 0–0 Middlesbrough
2026-04-25 Middlesbrough 5–1 Watford
2025-11-01 Watford 3–0 Middlesbrough
2025-02-15 Middlesbrough 0–1 Watford
2024-10-05 Watford 2–1 Middlesbrough
2024-05-04 Middlesbrough 3–1 Watford

League standing · 2026/27

Middlesbrough#2 pos29 pts15 pl+11 GD

Watford#20 pos15 pts15 pl-10 GD

Goals per game

Middlesbrough scored2

Watford scored0.87

Middlesbrough conceded1.27

Watford conceded1.53

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the head-to-head record between Middlesbrough and Watford?: In their last 6 meetings, Middlesbrough won 2, Watford won 3 and there was 1 draw, averaging 2.83 goals per game.
What is the recent form of Middlesbrough and Watford?: Recent form — Middlesbrough 2W 2D 1L; Watford 2W 1D 2L.

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