Boro v Watford

Pedro de Espana · 2026-04-23T09:38:58Z

MIDDLESBROUGH V WATFORD SAT 25 APRIL 12:30 - RIVERSIDE STADIUM Despite just playing yesterday evening, it's now only 48 hours to the next game - so barely time to recover and reflect before moving on. After getting their first win at the Riverside since January against bottom-club Sheffield Wednesday, Boro now welcome the team currently bottom of the form table in Watford. The Hornets have not won any of their last six games, having lost 4 and drawn 2 (DLDLLL) with those draws being against Charlton and relegated Leicester - plus neither of them have won any of their last six games too. Incidentally, that win on Wednesday has lifted Boro to 18th in the form table (DLDLDW). Watford Football Club has experienced significant fluctuation between Premier League and the EFL Championship since the Pozzo family ownwership began in 2014/2015. In the last 12 years, there have been numerous managerial changes with more than 15 permanent managers/coaches and many more caretakers - Below is the club's record under the family's tenure. 2025-2026 Championship 15th (after 44 games) 2024-2025 Championship 14th 2023-2024 Championship 15th 2022-2023 Championship 11th 2021-2022 Premier League 19th (relegated) 2020-2021 Championship 2nd (promoted) 2019-2020 Premier League 19th (relegated) 2018-2019 Premier League 11th 2017-2018 Premier League 14th 2016-2017 Premier League 17th 2015-2016 Premier League 13th 2014-2015 Championship 2nd (promoted) 2018-2019 FA Cup Final Lost (6-0 by Man City) HEAD COACH Ed Still (35) was appointed at Watford FC on February 9, 2026, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract. The Belgian-born coach, previously worked at Anderlecht, Charleroi and as assistant to his brother Will at Lens. (who was Head Coach at Southampton before being sacked on 2 November) Watford play in a 4-4-2 formation under Still and below is their usual starting XI for recent games. SELVIC PETRIS - POLLOCK - GOGLICHIDZE - ABANKWAH IRANKUNDA - N MENDY - LOUZA (C) - CHAKVETADZE KJERRUMGAARD - KAYEMBE WATFORD SQUAD In the summer window, Watford sold players worth £12.4m and brought in players for £6.3m - including 6 loanees - 3 from Udines in Kjerremgaard, Goglichidze and Abankwah - with the Italian club also being owned by the Pozzo family! They also brought in on a free, ex-Boro full-back, Marc Bola. Defender Matthew Pollock is the son of Boro ex-player Jamie Pollock and was previously an Academy player with the Boro, who later signed full professional terms with Grimsby Town, before signing for Watford in 2021. The squad is comprised of almost 80 percent non-UK players and includes 11 international players with an average age of 24.6 years. Below is table of the stats of current players this season - which includes a number of tall defenders and a 6'5" centre-forward. -------------------------------------------------------------- Height Market Age Goals Assists Value -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 E SELVIC (GK) 1.93m** €1.3m 28 29 J PETRIS (RB) 1.83m €2.0m 28 6 M POLLOCK (RCB) 1.90m** €1.5m 24 1 1 3 S GOGLICIDZE*(RCB) 1.92m** €4.5m 21 25 J ABANKWAH*(RCB) 1.88m** €1.5m 22 66 N IRANKUNDA (RW) 1.76m €6.0m 26 4 5 23 N MENDY (DMF) 1.68m €1.2m 33 10 I LOUZA (AMF) 1.78m €14.0m 26 7 9 8 G CHAKVETADZE (AMF) 1.83m €4.5m 26 3 9 L KJERRUMGAARD*(CF) 1.96m** €6.0m 23 10 1 39 E KEYEMBE (CMF) 1.83m €4.0m 27 1 Recent Substitutes 12 N BAXTER (GK) 27 27 F MENDY*(CB) 25 20 M DOUMBIA (CF) 20 4 1 4 K KEBEN (RCB) 22 17 P EKWAH*(LMF) 24 7 T INCE (RW) 34 4 15 E BOVE (MF) 23 1 18 V SEMEDO (CF) 21 4 2 16 M BOLA (FB) 28 2 3 42 O MAAMMA (RW) 20 4 1 --------------------------------------------------------------- * Loan players ** Players over 6 foot (1.83m) So, this doesn't look the most difficult game on paper for Boro and maybe an opportunity to give the supporters something to cheer in their last home league game of the season - though unless Millwall, Ipswich and Southampton all mess up their remaining games, Boro will have another Riverside outing in the play-offs to come.

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Martin Bellamy

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Joined: 6 years ago

Posts: 2100

April 28, 2026 12:57 pm

It’s quiet isn’t it?

IMG_5517.jpeg

This post was modified 2 hours ago by Martin Bellamy

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Powmill-Naemore

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Joined: 6 years ago

Posts: 2363

April 28, 2026 1:32 pm

@martin-bellamy you beat me to it.....

Calm before the storm me thinks....... I suspect there will be postings after the game tonight

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Clive Hurren

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Joined: 6 years ago

Posts: 1119

April 28, 2026 2:58 pm

@martin-bellamy / Powmill

I’ve nearly finished my Wrexham preview but I’m waiting to see what happens tonight before finalising it tomorrow morning.

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RE: Boro v Watford

@martin-bellamy / Powmill I’ve nearly finished my Wr...

By Clive Hurren , 19 minutes ago
RE: Boro v Watford

@martin-bellamy you beat me to it..... Calm before th...

By Powmill-Naemore , 2 hours ago
RE: Boro v Watford

It’s quiet isn’t it? IMG_5517.jpeg

By Martin Bellamy , 2 hours ago
RE: Boro v Watford

A three part column for you today, everyone. Enjoy...PO...

By Si , 24 hours ago
RE: Boro v Watford

QUOTE: “@andy-r Sold! Many thanks, Martin. I hope i...

By Martin Bellamy , 2 days ago
RE: Boro v Watford

Back home after our trip to London and caught up on the...

By Boro Beckys Dad , 2 days ago
RE: Boro v Watford

Sold! Many thanks, Martin. I hope it’s not n...

By Andy R , 2 days ago
RE: Boro v Watford

I’m happy to do one if needed, if you can stomach more ...

By Martin Bellamy , 2 days ago
RE: Boro v Watford

Good result today at Coventry as I think Wrexham will n...

By K P in Spain , 2 days ago
RE: Boro v Watford

Well it was definitely worth a long day on the trains t...

By Powmill-Naemore , 2 days ago

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