This Matchweek

WatfordPreston

Watford v Preston result

Full-time · Watford 2–1 Preston

Championship · · Vicarage Road

Updated · refreshed continuously

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

The model’s pre-match pick

Watford 2–1 Preston — Watford won this Championship match. TACTIX’s pre-match model pick was Over 2.5 goals.

Free pick
Over 2.5 goals
Best price: 1.95 at Unibet
What this price implies, and its fair odds with the margin removed →
This is one free selection. The model’s confidence rating, value against the bookmakers and every other market are part of Pro.
The record in this market: of the calls the model rated 70% or more on Over 2.5 goals in the last 90 days, 68.3% of 515 landed (95% range 64.2–72.2%); it had given them 75.8% on average. That is the market’s record, not a forecast for this pick. The model has been overconfident here: weigh its calls in this market with that in mind. How accurate →
Match report, in numbers

The result

Watford beat Preston 2–1 at Vicarage Road in the Championship on Tuesday 8 September. It is Watford’s first win over Preston since 16 December 2023, after five meetings without one (the 6 prior meetings TACTIX holds).

The goals

Watford came from behind: Preston led 1–0 at half-time. The goals — Preston: Callum Lang (5’); Watford: Edouard Kayembe (69’) and Mamadou Doumbia (76’, assisted by Iker Bravo).

How it turned

Replaying TACTIX’s published pre-match model through the match’s three key moments (goals and red cards), the biggest swing came with Mamadou Doumbia’s goal on 76 minutes.

The numbers

Expected goals (xG) tell a different story: Preston out-shot Watford 18 to 15 and created the better chances, 2.44 xG to 1.26 (the provider’s expected goals for this match). Context.

Discipline

Farai Hallam, England showed two yellow cards — against 3.8 yellows a game across the last 6 matches refereed (this competition). The bookings — Preston: Andrija Vukčević (62’) and Lewis Gibson (67’).

What it changes

Watford move up from 18th to 12th (six league matches played). Watford have scored six goals, the fifth-fewest (shared) of the 24 clubs (2026/27 so far, after 6 games, ranked per game). Watford have conceded seven goals, the fifth-fewest of the 24 clubs.

Preston move down from 22nd to 23rd (six league matches played). Preston have scored six goals, the fifth-fewest (shared) of the 24 clubs (2026/27 so far, after 6 games, ranked per game). Preston have conceded 12 goals, the fourth-most (shared) of the 24 clubs.

Who stood out

By TACTIX Impact for this match, Callum Lang (Preston) 6.9, Edouard Kayembe (Watford) 6.5 and Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) 5.6 led the match.

Head-to-head

Preston are unbeaten in the last five meetings with Watford.

What the model said

The model’s free pick, Over 2.5 goals, landed — graded in the live track record, misses included.

Next up

Watford next host Middlesbrough on 7 November 2026.

Preston next host Southampton on 7 November 2026.

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

Next for Watford: Watford v Middlesbrough, Saturday 7 November — the preview. Next for Preston: Preston v Southampton, Saturday 7 November — the preview.

The Numbers

  • Result: Watford 2–1 Preston · Championship
  • Venue: Vicarage Road · Watford
  • Referee: Farai Hallam, England
  • Model coverage: 246 markets priced for this fixture
  • Head-to-head (last 6): Watford 1 · draws 3 · Preston 2 · 3 goals/game
  • Recent form: Watford 0W 2D 3L · Preston 1W 0D 4L

Watford 2–1 Preston (Championship): this fixture is settled. TACTIX’s pre-match coverage ran across 246 markets, and every graded call — wins and losses — is in the live track record (as of 22 September 2026). See the live track record →

Key Stats

0.75 / 0.88
Goals
against 1.88 / 2.25 · 1 of the last 5 over 2.5
over 8 matches
3.88 / 4.57
Corners
against 6 / 5.57 · 2 of the last 5 over 9.5
over 7 matches
4.88 / 2.71
Shots on target
against 4.75 / 5.71 · 2 of the last 5 over 8.5
over 7 matches
2.5 / 2.43
Cards
against 2 / 1 · 3 of the last 5 over 3.5
over 7 matches
3.83 yellows
Referee · Farai Hallam, England
18.67 fouls a game
Home and away split · Pro
over 6 matches
246
Markets analysed

Per game, last 8 completed matches, to 5 September 2026. Over/under figures use standard thresholds, not bookmaker lines.

Per game, last 8 played matches, friendlies left out, to 5 September 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. Lines marked “our book” are this fixture’s; the rest are standard thresholds, not prices.
Per gameWatford for / againstLinePreston for / against
Goals scored
0.75 for · 1.88 against n 8
2.5our book
0.88 for · 2.25 against n 8
Corners won
3.88 for · 6 against n 8
9.5standard
4.57 for · 5.57 against n 7
Shots
16 for · 14.38 against n 8
19.5standard
11.71 for · 16.71 against n 7
Shots on target
4.88 for · 4.75 against n 8
8.5standard
2.71 for · 5.71 against n 7
Fouls committed
11.5 for · 10.63 against n 8
21.5standard
11.29 for · 9.71 against n 7
Cards shown
2.5 for · 2 against n 8
3.5standard
2.43 for · 1 against n 7

Referee: Farai Hallam, England — 3.83 yellow cards a game, 0 red cards, 18.67 fouls over 6 matches.

The referee's home and away split · Pro

Create free account Try Pro for £1.00 then £9.99 a month unless you cancel · 18+

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.
PlayerAppsAvg minsSavesGoals concededPenalties saved
F. Ravaglia692552 min162.6 /9061 /9000 /90
D. Bachmann19090 min66 /9055 /9000 /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 5 September 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 2+, lower cell 3+.
PlayerMinsSaves 2+3+
F. Ravaglia n 692
2.64/3
D. Bachmann n 890
2.96/5

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.
PlayerAppsAvg minsTacklesInterceptionsBlocksDuels wonFouls committedYellow cards
K. Keben785597 min121.8 /9050.8 /9091.4 /90274.1 /9050.8 /9020.3 /90
M. Pollock692552 min91.5 /9050.8 /9071.1 /90254.1 /9091.5 /9010.2 /90
J. Zemura576381 min71.7 /9071.7 /9010.2 /90235.4 /9051.2 /9010.2 /90
O. Traoré571357 min61.5 /9041 /9000 /90123 /9061.5 /9010.3 /90
Albert Eames365195 min52.3 /9031.4 /9020.9 /9083.7 /9010.5 /9000 /90
See more players · Pro

Try Pro for £1, then £9.99 a month unless you cancel · 18+

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 5 September 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsFouls committed 1+2+Fouls won 1+2+Likely duel
K. Keben n 885.9
0.74/1
0.42/1
—
Hector Kyprianou n 884.4
1.36/3
0.74/1
A. Devine
E. Bove n 859.1
1.55/2
1.54/3
—
O. Maamma n 865.4
1.45/2
1.25/1
—
Amin Nabizada n 848.8
1.24/1
0.21/0
C. Lang
See more players · Pro
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 5 September 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsTackles 1+2+
K. Keben n 885.9
1.77/3
Hector Kyprianou n 884.4
1.66/3
E. Bove n 859.1
2.78/4
O. Maamma n 865.4
1.55/2
Amin Nabizada n 848.8
2.55/4
See more players · Pro

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.
PlayerAppsAvg minsGoalsAssistsShotsShots on targetKey passesDribbles completed
M. Doumbia660357 min10.3 /9000 /9092.3 /9041 /9030.8 /9020.5 /90
Rocco Vata527135 min00 /9000 /9085.3 /9042.7 /9053.3 /9021.3 /90
L. Kjerrumgaard469277 min10.3 /9000 /9082.6 /9020.6 /9041.3 /9020.6 /90
S. Mavididi12323 min00 /9000 /9013.9 /9000 /9013.9 /9027.8 /90
Hector Kyprianou784585 min00 /9000 /9050.8 /9020.3 /9050.8 /9030.5 /90
See more players · Pro
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 5 September 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsShots 1+2+Shots on target 1+2+
K. Keben n 885.9
00/0
00/0
Hector Kyprianou n 884.4
0.73/2
0.32/0
E. Bove n 859.1
0.42/0
0.21/0
O. Maamma n 865.4
1.45/3
0.94/1
Amin Nabizada n 848.8
1.45/1
0.94/0
See more players · Pro
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 5 September 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsGoals 1+2+Assists 1+2+
K. Keben n 885.9
00/0
0.11/0
Hector Kyprianou n 884.4
00/0
00/0
E. Bove n 859.1
00/0
00/0
O. Maamma n 865.4
00/0
00/0
Amin Nabizada n 848.8
0.52/0
0.21/0
See more players · Pro

Preston

Preston Goalkeeper

Preston — 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.
PlayerAppsAvg minsSavesGoals concededPenalties saved
D. Iversen590450 min153 /90102 /9000 /90
L. Nicholls19090 min66 /9044 /9000 /90
Preston — Goalkeeper saves: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Preston before kick-off, to 5 September 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 2+, lower cell 3+.
PlayerMinsSaves 2+3+
D. Iversen n 884.4
2.55/4

Preston Defensive

Preston — 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.
PlayerAppsAvg minsTacklesInterceptionsBlocksDuels wonFouls committedYellow cards
H. Clarke578390 min51.2 /9061.4 /9051.2 /90173.9 /9030.7 /9020.5 /90
L. Gibson577385 min40.9 /9061.4 /9081.9 /90174 /9020.5 /9000 /90
J. Storey490360 min82 /9071.8 /9041 /90184.5 /9020.5 /9000 /90
L. Lindsay484335 min30.8 /9041.1 /9010.3 /90287.5 /9051.3 /9010.3 /90
A. Vukčević458233 min41.5 /9020.8 /9000 /9072.7 /9000 /9000 /90
See more players · Pro
Preston — Discipline: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Preston before kick-off, to 5 September 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsFouls committed 1+2+Fouls won 1+2+Likely duel
D. Burgzorg n 678
0.62/1
0.63/0
—
A. Devine n 875.5
0.72/2
1.67/2
Hector Kyprianou
L. Leroy n 672.3
1.24/1
1.24/1
—
C. Lang n 856.9
2.26/2
1.66/2
Amin Nabizada
J. Erabi n 645
0.72/0
12/1
—
See more players · Pro
Preston — Tackles: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Preston before kick-off, to 5 September 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsTackles 1+2+
D. Burgzorg n 678
14/1
A. Devine n 875.5
1.25/3
L. Leroy n 672.3
3.16/3
C. Lang n 856.9
1.44/3
J. Erabi n 645
1.73/2
See more players · Pro

Preston Attacking

Preston — 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.
PlayerAppsAvg minsGoalsAssistsShotsShots on targetKey passesDribbles completed
D. Burgzorg678468 min00 /9020.4 /9030.6 /9020.4 /9061.2 /9000 /90
C. Lang654322 min20.6 /9000 /9082.2 /9051.4 /9010.3 /9000 /90
J. Erabi645270 min10.3 /9000 /9072.3 /9031 /9020.7 /9031 /90
M. Osmajić19090 min00 /9000 /9011 /9011 /9000 /9011 /90
A. Devine676456 min00 /9000 /9010.2 /9000 /90132.6 /9030.6 /90
See more players · Pro
Preston — Shooting: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Preston before kick-off, to 5 September 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsShots 1+2+Shots on target 1+2+
D. Burgzorg n 678
0.62/1
0.42/0
A. Devine n 875.5
0.42/1
0.31/1
L. Leroy n 672.3
1.22/1
00/0
C. Lang n 856.9
27/3
1.46/1
J. Erabi n 645
2.34/2
12/1
See more players · Pro
Preston — Goalscoring: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Preston before kick-off, to 5 September 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsGoals 1+2+Assists 1+2+
D. Burgzorg n 678
00/0
0.42/0
A. Devine n 875.5
00/0
0.31/1
L. Leroy n 672.3
00/0
00/0
C. Lang n 856.9
0.41/1
00/0
J. Erabi n 645
0.31/0
00/0
See more players · Pro

The next free picks, by email

The pick on this page was published before kick-off and graded afterwards. The daily email carries the next ones at 07:30 UK, each with its tier’s settled record, misses included. One click to leave.

Match Statistics & Details

Full-time team statistics as recorded by the data provider; – = not recorded.
WatfordPreston
61%Possession39%
1.26Expected goals (xG)2.44
15Shots18
5Shots on target6
7Shots off target6
3Blocked shots6
11Shots inside the box10
2Corners4
2Offsides1
7Fouls10
0Yellow cards2
0Red cards0
5Saves3
526Passes319
83%Pass accuracy76%

Watford Player Stats

PlayerMinGAShSoTKPTklCardsRating
S. Coulibaly9000000007.5
F. Ravaglia9000000007.3
M. Pollock9000100106.9
Hector Kyprianou9000001206.3
K. Keben9000100006.2
E. Kayembe9010422108.2
M. Doumbia8810213006.9
O. Traoré6100101106.2
M. Payero4500001106.5
Amin Nabizada4500000106.3
Rocco Vata4500210006.9
S. Mavididi sub4500000007
O. Maamma sub4500000107.3
Iker Bravo sub4501111007.2
J. Zemura sub2900001007.2
L. Kjerrumgaard sub20000100–

Preston Player Stats

PlayerMinGAShSoTKPTklCardsRating
Jordan Thompson9000111206.7
J. Storey9000000106.9
O. Offiah9000001406.7
L. Gibson90000001Y7.2
H. Clarke9000211207
D. Iversen9000000005.6
A. Devine8200214005.9
L. Leroy7500101106.5
C. Lang7510323107.2
A. Vukčević66000013Y7.3
J. Kenny6600201106.3
D. Burgzorg sub2400110006.3
S. Mills sub2400001006.9
J. Erabi sub1500000006.5
L. Gibbs sub1500000006.5
T. Small sub800000006.7

Sh = shots, SoT = shots on target, KP = key passes, Tkl = tackles; – = not recorded for that player. Rating is the data provider’s.

Form, Head-to-Head & Standings

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

Recent form
WatfordDLDLL
Last 5: 0W 2D 3L · 0.6 scored / 2 conceded per game
PrestonLLLLW
Last 5: 1W 0D 4L · 0.8 scored / 2.4 conceded per game
Head-to-head last 6
Watford 1 · 3 draws · Preston 2 · 3 goals/game
  • 2026-02-14 Preston 2–2 Watford
  • 2025-11-25 Watford 1–1 Preston
  • 2025-01-21 Watford 1–2 Preston
  • 2024-10-02 Preston 3–0 Watford
  • 2024-04-06 Watford 0–0 Preston
  • 2023-12-16 Preston 1–5 Watford
League standing · 2026/27
Watford#20 pos14 pts14 pl-10 GD
Preston#24 pos5 pts14 pl-18 GD
Goals per game
Watford scored0.93
Preston scored0.86
Watford conceded1.64
Preston conceded2.14

The Full Post-Match Picture

Pro members see this match shot by shot — every attempt with its expected-goals value, the situation and shot-type breakdowns, the xG timeline, and how the model’s pre-match probabilities compared with what happened. Plus every market the model graded for this fixture.

Try Pro for £1

then £9.99 a month unless you cancel · 18+

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the model’s pick for Watford v Preston?
TACTIX’s free model pick for Watford v Preston was Over 2.5 goals (best price 1.95 at Unibet).
What is the head-to-head record between Watford and Preston?
In their last 6 meetings, Watford won 1, Preston won 2 and there were 3 draws, averaging 3 goals per game.
What is the recent form of Watford and Preston?
Recent form — Watford 0W 2D 3L; Preston 1W 0D 4L.

Today’s Boards

Every fixture kicking off in the UK day, and the fixtures where the free pick leads with each market.

Predictions todayTomorrowBTTS boardOver 2.5 boardUnder 2.5 boardOver 1.5 boardHome win boardAway win boardDouble chance board
Share this prediction: X · Facebook · WhatsApp · Telegram

This page is generated from TACTIX’s match data by our software and checked automatically; data as of . How it works → · Report an error

How our model works · Live track record · Predictions are model output, not betting advice.

Unlock all 246 predictions, advanced stats & the model v the market with ProTry Pro for £1 then £9.99 a month unless you cancel · 18+