England - ChampionshipVicarage RoadData current as of 05 September 2026

Watford vs Preston North End: match statistics

Reasoning:

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Watford vs Preston North End: form, goals and key statistics

Key match information

Watford play Preston North End in Championship (England). The match date is 8 September 2026. Venue: Vicarage Road.

Current form

Watford: 1-2-2, 1.00 points/match. Preston North End: 1-0-4, 0.60 points/match.

Goal statistics

Watford scores 0.80 and concedes 1.20 goals per match. Preston North End scores 1.00 and concedes 2.00. League average: 2.90 goals.

BTTS / Over / Under

BTTS: Watford 60%, Preston North End 80%. Over 2.5: Watford 20%, Preston North End 80%. League level: BTTS 67%, Over 2.5 66%.

xG, shots and style

Watford has higher xG: 1.30 vs 1.25. Watford: 12.2 shots per match, Preston North End: 12.2.

Match halves

Watford: half-time lead 20%, second-half goals 0.00. Preston North End: half-time lead 20%, second-half goals 0.60.

Goals by minute

Watford: 0-15 (2 goals). Preston North End: 76-90+ (2 goals). This is historical distribution, not a predicted goal minute.

League context

Championship: 2.90 goals per match, BTTS 67%, Over 2.5 66%.

Head-to-head

Before this fixture, 2 previous H2H matches were available: 0-2-0. Average goals 3.00, BTTS 100%.

Before the match

1X2 odds

(2.08)
(3.45)
(3.25)

Pre-match profilewhat do the season numbers say?

This is a team profile based on season data and form. Match-flow statistics are shown only after the fixture is played.

WatfordPreston North End
0.8Goals scored / match1
WatfordPreston North End
1.2Goals conceded / match2
WatfordPreston North End
40%Average possession44%
WatfordPreston North End
3.8Shots on target / match2.6
WatfordPreston North End

Team statswho is more efficient?

Attack and defence comparison for both teams in the current season.

12.2Shots per match12.2
WatfordPreston North End
3.8Shots on target2.6
WatfordPreston North End
6.6%Shot conversion8.2%
WatfordPreston North End
40%Possession44%
WatfordPreston North End
1.3xG for1.25
WatfordPreston North End
1.5xG against1.52
WatfordPreston North End

Shooting quality

Watford: BalancedPreston North End: Balanced
WatfordPreston North End
Accuracy (shots on target)31%21%
Chance quality (xG per shot)0.110.10
Finishing (goals per shot on target)0.210.38

xG per shot around 0.08 usually means long-range attempts; 0.15+ usually means box chances. The style label comes from possession, shot volume and conversion.

* xG (expected goals) says how many goals a team should score from its chances. If actual goals are above xG, finishing is above average; if below xG, chances are being missed.

Team formwho is in better shape?

Last five matches and season record, overall and split by home and away matches.

Watford is 67% better for: last-5 form.

1 pts / match - Watford · 0.6 pts / match - Preston North End

Watford
WDDLL
Season result split
20% W40% R40% P
Season (W-D-L)
1-2-2
1.00 pts / match · goal difference -2
Last 5 (W-D-L)
1-2-2
1.00 pts / match
Record at home (W-D-L)
1-1-0
Last 5 at home
1-1-0
WD
Last 5 matches - averages
Goals scored: 0.8Goals conceded: 1.2xG: 1.30Opponent xG: 1.50BTTS: 60%Over 2.5: 20%
Preston North End
LLLLW
Season result split
20% W0% R80% P
Season (W-D-L)
1-0-4
0.60 pts / match · goal difference -5
Last 5 (W-D-L)
1-0-4
0.60 pts / match
Record away (W-D-L)
0-0-2
Last 5 away
0-0-2
LL
Last 5 matches - averages
Goals scored: 1.0Goals conceded: 2.0xG: 1.25Opponent xG: 1.52BTTS: 80%Over 2.5: 80%

Goalshow do both teams score and concede?

How many goals both teams score and concede, plus how often they keep a clean sheet or fail to score.

Preston North End is 25% better for: goals scored per match.

0.8 goals / match - Watford · 1 goals / match - Preston North End

Watford is 67% better for: goals conceded per match.

1.2 goals / match - Watford · 2 goals / match - Preston North End

Watford scoring profile: very strong

Watford scores in 60% of matches (3 of 5 matches), while Preston North End keeps a clean sheet in 0% (0 of 5 matches).

Preston North End scoring profile: very strong

Preston North End scores in 80% of matches (4 of 5 matches), while Watford keeps a clean sheet in 0% (0 of 5 matches).

4Goals scored (season)5
WatfordPreston North End
6Goals conceded (season)10
WatfordPreston North End
2Average goals in match3
WatfordPreston North End
4Goals scored (last 5)5
WatfordPreston North End
6Goals conceded (last 5)10
WatfordPreston North End

How often they score at least...

60%1 goal80%
WatfordPreston North End
20%2 goals20%
WatfordPreston North End
0%3 goals0%
WatfordPreston North End
0%4 goals0%
WatfordPreston North End

How often they concede at least...

100%1 goal100%
WatfordPreston North End
20%2 goals60%
WatfordPreston North End
0%3 goals40%
WatfordPreston North End
0%4 goals0%
WatfordPreston North End

* Statistics include both teams' home and away matches in the current season.

Both teams scored (BTTS)how often do both teams score?

How often both teams' matches have goals on both sides, compared with the league average.

67%
League average

Goal patterns

40%BTTS at half-time0%
WatfordPreston North End
0%BTTS in both halves0%
WatfordPreston North End
0%Scored in both halves0%
WatfordPreston North End

BTTS and goal count

20%Min. 3 goals and BTTS80%
WatfordPreston North End
0%Min. 3 goals without BTTS0%
WatfordPreston North End
60%BTTS - last 580%
WatfordPreston North End

Goal count (Over/Under)how often do these matches cross the goal lines?

How often matches involving these teams clear goal thresholds, in the full match and in each half.

1st half

100%Min. 1 goal before half-time80%
WatfordPreston North End
80%Min. 2 goals before half-time40%
WatfordPreston North End
0%Min. 3 goals before half-time0%
WatfordPreston North End

2nd half

20%Min. 1 goal after half-time100%
WatfordPreston North End
0%Min. 2 goals after half-time40%
WatfordPreston North End
0%Min. 3 goals after half-time40%
WatfordPreston North End

Match halveswhen do the teams score more often?

How teams split performance between first and second half: goals, points, clean sheets and half-time state.

Watford is 25% better for: first-half form (half-time points).

1 pts / match - Watford · 0.8 pts / match - Preston North End

Watford - half-time state
20% leading40% draw40% trailing
Preston North End - half-time state
20% leading20% draw60% trailing

Before half-time (1st half)

1Points per match (1st half)0.8
WatfordPreston North End
0.8Goals scored (1st half)0.4
WatfordPreston North End
1Goals conceded (1st half)0.8
WatfordPreston North End
1.8Average goals (1st half)1.2
WatfordPreston North End
20%Clean sheet before half-time40%
WatfordPreston North End
40%No goal before half-time80%
WatfordPreston North End

After half-time (2nd half)

0.8Points per match (2nd half)0.6
WatfordPreston North End
0Goals scored (2nd half)0.6
WatfordPreston North End
0.2Goals conceded (2nd half)1.2
WatfordPreston North End
0.2Average goals (2nd half)1.8
WatfordPreston North End
80%Clean sheet after half-time20%
WatfordPreston North End
100%No goal after half-time40%
WatfordPreston North End

Watford - second-half results

0% W80% R20% P
5
Half-time points
4
Half-time goals
-1
Goal difference (1st half)
4
Second-half points
-1
Goal difference (2nd half)
1.00
PPG before half-time
Lead holding100%

Leads at half-time in 20% of matches and wins 20%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.

Defence after half-time-0.8

Defence stays stable across the full match.

Preston North End - second-half results

20% W0% R80% P
4
Half-time points
2
Half-time goals
-2
Goal difference (1st half)
3
Second-half points
-3
Goal difference (2nd half)
0.80
PPG before half-time
Lead holding100%

Leads at half-time in 20% of matches and wins 20%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.

Defence after half-time+0.4

Concedes 0.4 more goals per match after half-time - defensive level drops in the second half.

Watford - last 5 matches by half
1st half2nd half
Points per match1.000.80
Goals scored / match0.80.0
Goals conceded / match1.00.2
Average goals in match1.80.2
1 goal100%20%
2 goals80%0%
3 goals0%0%
Clean sheet20%80%
No goal40%100%
Goal difference-1-1
Half-time: 20% leading - 40% draw - 40% trailing
2nd half: 0% won - 80% draw - 20% lost
BTTS at half-time (last 5): 40% - Half-time goals total: 4
Preston North End - last 5 matches by half
1st half2nd half
Points per match0.800.60
Goals scored / match0.40.6
Goals conceded / match0.81.2
Average goals in match1.21.8
1 goal80%100%
2 goals40%40%
3 goals0%40%
Clean sheet40%20%
No goal80%40%
Goal difference-2-3
Half-time: 20% leading - 20% draw - 60% trailing
2nd half: 20% won - 0% draw - 80% lost
BTTS at half-time (last 5): 0% - Half-time goals total: 2

* Colours in tables show event frequency: green is common, yellow is moderate, red is rare. It is frequency, not a team rating.

Goals by minutewhen do goals arrive?

Match phases in which both teams most often score and concede.

Watford
ScoredConceded
2
1
0-15
2
3
16-30
0
1
31-45
0
1
46-60
0
0
61-75
0
0
76-90

Most dangerous in minutes 0-15 (2 goals). Concedes most in 16-30 (3). Late-goal balance (76-90): 0.

Preston North End
ScoredConceded
1
3
0-15
1
1
16-30
0
0
31-45
1
2
46-60
0
1
61-75
2
3
76-90

Most dangerous in minutes 76-90 (2 goals). Concedes most in 0-15 (3). Late-goal balance (76-90): -1 - late phases are a weakness.

* Buckets 31-45 and 76-90 include added-time goals.

Additional team indicatorswhat do xG, efficiency and form show?

A comparison of chance quality, results and trends based on completed matches from the current season.

Match profile

2.50
Estimated goals
attack vs opponent defence
1.4 : 1.1
Estimated goal split
home : away
86%
Pace vs league
100% = league average
70%
Both teams scored (BTTS)
average from both teams' seasons
+20%
Derby effect
H2H goals vs typical matches
48%
BTTS estimate
from both teams' scoring frequency
8%
0:0 risk
about 1 in 13 matches
0-1
Most common goal range
attack vs defence on both sides

Watford

Net xG balance
Difference between the quality of chances created and allowed per match.
-0.20
Results compared with xG
Difference between the actual goal balance and the balance suggested by xG.
-0.20
Points compared with goal balance
Comparison between collected points and the points implied by the team's goal balance.
+0.4 pts
Finishing efficiency
Does the team convert chances? Positive means it scores more than the quality of chances suggests.
-0.50
Defensive efficiency
Does the defence or goalkeeper save the team? Positive means it concedes less than the chances allowed suggest.
+0.30
Attack vs league
How much the team scores compared with the league average for this role. 120% means 20% above average.
49%
Defence vs league
How much the team concedes compared with the league average. 80% means 20% fewer goals conceded.
94%
Form trend
Compares points from the last 5 matches with the whole-season average.
0.00
Stronger second half?
How many more goals the team scores after half-time than before it.
-0.8
Late goals
0% of this team's goals come in minutes 76-90. For comparison, 50% come in the first quarter-hour.
0%

Preston North End

Net xG balance
Difference between the quality of chances created and allowed per match.
-0.27
Results compared with xG
Difference between the actual goal balance and the balance suggested by xG.
-0.73
Points compared with goal balance
Comparison between collected points and the points implied by the team's goal balance.
-0.0 pts
Finishing efficiency
Does the team convert chances? Positive means it scores more than the quality of chances suggests.
-0.25
Defensive efficiency
Does the defence or goalkeeper save the team? Positive means it concedes less than the chances allowed suggest.
-0.48
Attack vs league
How much the team scores compared with the league average for this role. 120% means 20% above average.
78%
Defence vs league
How much the team concedes compared with the league average. 80% means 20% fewer goals conceded.
123%
Form trend
Compares points from the last 5 matches with the whole-season average.
0.00
Stronger second half?
How many more goals the team scores after half-time than before it.
+0.2
Late goals
40% of this team's goals come in minutes 76-90. For comparison, 20% come in the first quarter-hour.
40%

* The estimated goal total and split, BTTS estimate, 0:0 risk and goal range are calculated from public season averages and frequencies for both teams. This is a statistical match profile, not a private model prediction or betting pick. The remaining indicators describe completed matches from the season.

League contextis this a high-scoring league?

How both teams compare with league-wide averages (Championship).

Teams vs league

WatfordLigaPreston North End
Average goals in match 2.002.90 3.00
Both teams scored 60%67% 80%
Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5) 20%66% 80%
Clean sheets 0%20% 0%
Goal before half-time 100%81% 80%
Goal after half-time 20%78% 100%

^ green = above league average, ˇ red = below league average. This shows direction of the gap, not a team rating.

2.90
Average goals per match
67%
Both teams scored
66%
Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5)
20%
Clean sheets
1.62
Home goals / match
1.28
Away goals / match
+27%
Home attack advantage
+21%
Home defence advantage
+14%
Total home advantage
Goals in 1st half (whole league)
81%
1 goal
40%
2 goals
17%
3 goals
7%
4 goals
Goals in 2nd half (whole league)
78%
1 goal
47%
2 goals
19%
3 goals
2%
4 goals

Head-to-head

Recent meetings (2): Watford 0 - 2 - 0 Preston North End. Average goals 3.00, both teams scored in 100% matches.

FAQ

When do Watford and Preston North End play?

Watford face Preston North End on 8 September 2026 in Championship at Vicarage Road. The exact kick-off time in your timezone is shown at the top of the match page.

What is the head-to-head record between Watford and Preston North End?

In the last 2 head-to-head matches Watford won 0, Preston North End won 0 and 2 ended level. These games averaged 3.00 goals, with both teams scoring in 100% of them.

What do the goal statistics show before Watford vs Preston North End?

Watford score 0.80 goals per game on average and Preston North End 1.00. The Championship average is 2.90 goals, with Over 2.5 landing in 66% of games. Both teams score in 60% of Watford's matches and 80% of Preston North End's.

What form are Watford and Preston North End in?

Over the last 5 games Watford have a 1-2-2 record (1.00 points per game) and Preston North End 1-0-4 (0.60 points per game).

Where can I find a betting tip and analysis for Watford vs Preston North End?

The statistical background for Watford vs Preston North End — form, head-to-head, goals, BTTS and Over/Under — is on this page. The tip with full reasoning and a value assessment is in the NoFluffPicks app.