Watford vs Portsmouth — result, stats and line-ups

Full Time

2024/2025

Watford

26 DEC

2:1

Portsmouth

Goals

GOAL

Goal11'

Zak Swanson · Right foot shot 0-1

GOAL

Penalty57'

Edo Kayembe 1-1

GOAL

Goal90'

Rocco Vata · Left foot shot 2-1

Man of the match

Zak SwansonPortsmouth8.0

Expected goals (xG)

WatfordxGPortsmouth

1.860.51

Trends

season

Win %

35%30%

Over 1.5 %

70%74%

Over 2.5 %

57%61%

AI forecast

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TV stations

England

Sky Sports+

Channels in 3 countries

England

Sky Sports+

International

Bet365

United States

Paramount+

Venue

Vicarage RoadWatford · 22,200 seats

Larger map ›

Conditions

Weatherbroken clouds
RefereeGeoff Eltringham
1st AssistantG Read
2nd AssistantBhupinder Gill
4th OfficialPaul Johnson

Pressure index

WatfordPortsmouth

1′45′90′

Which side was pressing, minute by minute. The markers are the events: tap one to read the minute and the player — and, with ball positions loaded, the replay jumps there.

Match flow

GOAL

Goal11'

Zak Swanson · Right foot shot 0-1

PLAYER

Yellow card30'

Kwadwo Baah

Yellow card30'

Substitution46'

In: ? · Tactical sub

Substitution46'

In: ? · Tactical sub

GOAL

Penalty57'

Edo Kayembe 1-1

PLAYER

Yellow card57'

Marlon Pack

Yellow card57'

PLAYER

Yellow card59'

Edo Kayembe

PLAYER

Yellow card59'

Nicolas Schmid

Yellow card59'

PLAYER

Yellow card60'

Josh Murphy

Yellow card60'

PLAYER

Yellow card64'

Callum Lang

Yellow card64'

OUT

Substitution71'

In: Ryan Andrews · Out: Jeremy Ngakia · Tactical sub

PLAYER

Yellow card75'

Zak Swanson

OUT

Substitution78'

In: Terry Devlin · Out: Zak Swanson · Tactical sub

OUT

Substitution79'

In: Owen Moxon · Out: Callum Lang · Tactical sub

OUT

Substitution82'

In: Vakoun Bayo · Out: Daniel Jebbison · Tactical sub

OUT

Substitution87'

In: Moussa Sissoko · Out: Edo Kayembe · Tactical sub

PLAYER

Yellow card90'

Owen Moxon

GOAL

Goal90'

Rocco Vata · Left foot shot 2-1

PLAYER

Red card90'

Kwadwo Baah

Red card90'

Ball positions

The ball's path over the whole match or one half: press play to run through it, drag the slider to jump anywhere. Loaded on request to keep the page light.

Commentary

107

That's a wrap! The match has concluded with Watford coming out on top, defeating Portsmouth 2-1.
90+8′The second half has concluded with the final score: Watford 2, Portsmouth 1.
90+5′Goal! Watford 2, Portsmouth 1. Rocco Vata - Watford - shot with left foot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
90+4′Missed opportunity! Colby Bishop from Portsmouth took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it went wide. The assist came from Connor Ogilvie, who set him up with a header.Penalty
90+3′Owen Moxon from Portsmouth has been awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
90+3′Kwadwo Baah from Watford committed a foul.
90+1′Ryan Porteous from Watford has earned a free kick in the defensive area.
90+1′The fourth official has indicated that there will be 5 minutes of stoppage time.
90′Owen Moxon of Portsmouth has been shown a yellow card for committing a foul.
89′Kwadwo Baah - Watford - won a free kick in defence.
89′Owen Moxon from Portsmouth committed a foul.
88′Corner awarded to Portsmouth after Ryan Andrews allowed the ball to go out.
87′Substitution for Watford: Moussa Sissoko comes on to replace Edo Kayembe.
87′Vakoun Bayo from Watford has committed a handball.
85′The pause has ended. They are set to resume play.
85′Match interruption - Watford.
85′Opportunity wasted. Paddy Lane from Portsmouth attempted a left-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area, but it sailed over the goal. The assist came from Connor Ogilvie, who set him up with a header.Penalty
84′Ryan Porteous committed a foul against Watford.
84′Colby Bishop from Portsmouth has earned a free kick in an offensive position.
83′Kwadwo Baah from Watford has earned a free kick in the defensive area.
83′Connor Ogilvie from Portsmouth committed a foul.
82′Josh Murphy from Portsmouth earned a free kick on the right flank.
82′Imrân Louza from Watford committed a foul.
82′Substitution for Watford: Vakoun Bayo comes on to replace Daniel Jebbison.
80′Terry Devlin from Portsmouth committed a foul.
80′Daniel Jebbison from Watford has been awarded a free kick in the defensive zone.
79′Substitution for Portsmouth: Owen Moxon replaces Callum Lang.
78′Substitution for Portsmouth: Terry Devlin comes on to replace Zak Swanson.
78′Paddy Lane of Portsmouth has been awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
78′Yasser Larouci from Watford committed a foul.
76′Delay over. They are ready to continue.
75′Zak Swanson - Portsmouth - receive yellow card for a foul.
75′Delay in match - injury Imrân Louza - Watford
75′Rocco Vata from Watford has been awarded a free kick on the left flank.
75′Zak Swanson from Portsmouth committed a foul.
75′Another offensive push! Ryan Andrews from Watford takes a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area, but it's saved in the bottom left corner. The assist came from Ryan Porteous.Penalty
72′Corner kick awarded to Portsmouth after Yasser Larouci gave away possession.
71′Substitution for Watford: Ryan Andrews comes on to replace Jeremy Ngakia.
68′Corner awarded to Watford after Nicolas Schmid allowed the ball to go out.
68′New attacking attempt. Kwadwo Baah - Watford - shot with left foot from the right side of the box is saved in the left corner. Assist - Daniel Jebbison.
66′Corner awarded to Watford after Connor Ogilvie allowed the ball to go out.
64′Callum Lang of Portsmouth has been shown a yellow card for committing a foul.
64′Mattie Pollock from Watford has been awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
64′Callum Lang from Portsmouth committed a foul.
62′Imrân Louza from Watford committed a foul.
62′Colby Bishop from Portsmouth has earned a free kick in an offensive position.
60′Josh Murphy from Portsmouth has been shown a yellow card for committing a foul.
60′Yasser Larouci from Watford has been awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
60′Josh Murphy from Portsmouth committed a foul.
59′Nicolas Schmid of Portsmouth has been shown a yellow card.
59′Edo Kayembe of Watford has been shown a yellow card.
57′Goal! Watford 1, Portsmouth 1. Edo Kayembe - Watford - converts the penalty with a shot with left foot to the top left corner.
57′Marlon Pack - Portsmouth - receive yellow card.
56′Penalty conceded by Freddie Potts - Portsmouth - after a foul in the penalty area.Penalty
56′Penalty Watford. Kwadwo Baah draws a foul in the penalty area.Penalty
55′Paddy Lane - Portsmouth - won a free kick on the left wing.
55′Jeremy Ngakia from Watford committed a foul.
53′Missed opportunity. Jeremy Ngakia of Watford takes a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area following a corner, but it sails over the bar.Penalty
53′Corner - Watford. Conceded by Callum Lang.
52′Corner - Watford. Conceded by Zak Swanson.
52′Kwadwo Baah - Watford - won a free kick in defence.
52′Fouled by Connor Ogilvie - Portsmouth
51′Corner - Portsmouth. Conceded by Ryan Porteous.
50′Shot blocked. Daniel Jebbison - Watford - shot with right foot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assist - Kwadwo Baah with a cross.
47′Corner awarded to Watford after Freddie Potts gave it away.
47′Shot blocked. Rocco Vata - Watford - shot with right foot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assist - Jeremy Ngakia.
45′Substitution - Watford. Rocco Vata for James Morris.
45′Substitution - Portsmouth. Paddy Lane for Matt Ritchie.
45′The second half is underway with the score at Watford 0, Portsmouth 1.
45+2′The first half has concluded with a score of Watford 0, Portsmouth 1.
45+1′The fourth official has indicated that there will be two minutes of stoppage time.
40′Offside call against Watford. Ryan Porteous has been caught in an offside position.
39′Corner awarded to Watford after Josh Murphy allowed the ball to go out.
39′Edo Kayembe from Watford attempted a left-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area, but it was successfully blocked. The assist came from Giorgi Chakvetadze.Penalty
38′Missed opportunity! Ryan Porteous from Watford attempts a right-footed shot from the right side of the six-yard box, but it sails over the bar. The chance was set up by Giorgi Chakvetadze, who delivered a cross following a corner kick.
37′Corner awarded to Watford after Connor Ogilvie allowed the ball to go out.
34′Imrân Louza from Watford has been awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
34′Callum Lang from Portsmouth committed a foul.
33′Connor Ogilvie from Portsmouth has been awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
32′The pause has ended. They are set to resume play.
31′The game is currently on hold due to an injury to Matt Ritchie from Portsmouth.
30′Kwadwo Baah of Watford has been shown a yellow card for committing a foul.
30′Matt Ritchie from Portsmouth has earned a free kick in the defensive area.
30′Kwadwo Baah from Watford committed a foul.
28′Yasser Larouci of Watford has been awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
28′Callum Lang from Portsmouth committed a foul.
26′Corner awarded to Portsmouth after Ryan Porteous gave it away.
25′Corner awarded to Watford after Matt Ritchie allowed the ball to go out.
25′The attempt is thwarted. Jeremy Ngakia from Watford takes a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it's blocked. The assist came from Imrân Louza.Penalty
24′Corner - Watford. Conceded by Marlon Pack.
24′Missed opportunity! Mattie Pollock of Watford attempted a header from the center of the box but sent it wide to the left. The assist came from Imrân Louza, who delivered a cross following a corner kick.
24′Corner awarded to Watford after Connor Ogilvie allowed the ball to go out.
21′James Morris from Watford committed a foul.
20′Daniel Jebbison committed a foul on a Watford player.
20′Callum Lang from Portsmouth has been awarded a free kick in the defensive area.
16′Opportunity wasted. Josh Murphy from Portsmouth attempted a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area following a corner, but it went wide.Penalty
15′Corner awarded to Portsmouth after Yasser Larouci allowed the ball to go out of play.
12′Ryan Porteous from Watford has earned a free kick in the defensive area.
12′Callum Lang from Portsmouth committed a foul.
10′Goal! Watford 0, Portsmouth 1. Zak Swanson - Portsmouth - shot with right foot from the right side of the box to the left corner .
10′Freddie Potts from Portsmouth has been awarded a free kick in the attacking zone.
10′Imrân Louza from Watford committed a foul.
8′Missed chance. Callum Lang - Portsmouth - shot with right foot from the centre of the box is close, but missed to the left. Assist - Josh Murphy with a cross.
4′A fresh offensive play unfolds as Daniel Jebbison from Watford takes a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it's expertly saved in the bottom right corner. The assist comes from Giorgi Chakvetadze.Penalty
3′Another offensive effort underway. Daniel Jebbison of Watford heads the ball from the middle of the box, but it's expertly saved in the upper center of the goal. The assist came from Yasser Larouci, who delivered a precise cross.
2′Corner awarded to Watford after Zak Swanson allowed the ball to go out.
The first half is underway...

Match statistics

WATPTM

Possession and passing

71%Possession29%

83%Pass accuracy59%

527Passes223

439Successful Passes131

83Ball Safe55

10Key Passes3

5 more

52Long Passes63

38%Long-pass accuracy21%

4Substitutions3

20Successful Long Passes13

31Throw-ins17

Attack

2Goals1

13Shots Total5

6Shots On Target1

2Big Chances Created1

11Corners5

51Dangerous Attacks30

15 more

6Accurate Crosses1

96Attacks82

0Big Chances Missed1

15Dribble Attempts8

44Duels Won39

8Goal Attempts7

1Offsides0

1Penalties0

4Shots Blocked0

10Shots inside the box3

3Shots Off Target4

3Shots outside the box2

33%Successful dribbles13%

5Successful Dribbles1

28Total Crosses10

Defence and discipline

0Saves4

8Tackles14

4Interceptions15

12Fouls13

2Yellow cards6

1Red cards0

2 more

12Free Kicks12

10Goal Kicks5

Other

19Successful Headers13

0Injuries1

The halves are each period's own numbers — not a split of the full-time figures.

The referee

G. EltringhamPer-match averages this season · 5 matches · career: 268

	Avg	Home	Away	Career
Yellow cards	6.40	2.80	3.60	3.24
Red cards	0.80	0.80	0.00	0.10
Second yellows	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.06
Penalties	0.20	0.20	0.00	0.26

Home / away: what the home and the away side received on average. Career: the average over every match officiated.

Expected goals (xG)

WatfordxGPortsmouth

1.860.51

Expected Goals on Target (xGoT)

1.750.48

Expected Goals Non Penalty Goals (npxG)

1.070.51

Expected Goals Open Play (xGOP)

0.850.42

Expected Goals Set Play (xGSP)

1.010.09

Expected Goals Corners (xGC)

0.200.03

Expected Points (xPTS)

2.310.49

Expected Goals Against (xGA)

0.511.86

Form

WatfordLWDDW

21 DECaway

Burnley

Watford

ChampionshipRound 22

15 DEChome

Watford

West Bromwich Albion

ChampionshipRound 21

11 DECaway

Hull City

Watford

ChampionshipRound 20

30 NOVhome

Watford

Queens Park Rangers

ChampionshipRound 18

26 NOVhome

Watford

Bristol City

ChampionshipRound 17

22 NOVaway

Plymouth Argyle

Watford

ChampionshipRound 16

8 NOVhome

Watford

Oxford United

ChampionshipRound 15

5 NOVaway

Swansea City

Watford

ChampionshipRound 14

2 NOVaway

Sheffield Wednesday

Watford

ChampionshipRound 13

26 OCThome

Watford

Blackburn Rovers

ChampionshipRound 12

22 OCTaway

Leeds United

Watford

ChampionshipRound 11

19 OCTaway

Luton Town

Watford

ChampionshipRound 10

5 OCThome

Watford

Middlesbrough

ChampionshipRound 9

2 OCTaway

Preston North End

Watford

ChampionshipRound 8

28 SEPThome

Watford

Sunderland

ChampionshipRound 7

PortsmouthWLDWD

21 DEChome

Portsmouth

Coventry City

ChampionshipRound 22

13 DECaway

Derby County

Portsmouth

ChampionshipRound 21

10 DEChome

Portsmouth

Norwich City

ChampionshipRound 20

7 DEChome

Portsmouth

Bristol City

ChampionshipRound 19

30 NOVaway

Swansea City

Portsmouth

ChampionshipRound 18

9 NOVhome

Portsmouth

Preston North End

ChampionshipRound 15

5 NOVaway

Plymouth Argyle

Portsmouth

ChampionshipRound 14

2 NOVaway

Hull City

Portsmouth

ChampionshipRound 13

25 OCThome

Portsmouth

Sheffield Wednesday

ChampionshipRound 12

22 OCTaway

Cardiff City

Portsmouth

ChampionshipRound 11

19 OCTaway

Queens Park Rangers

Portsmouth

ChampionshipRound 10

5 OCThome

Portsmouth

Oxford United

ChampionshipRound 9

2 OCTaway

Stoke City

Portsmouth

ChampionshipRound 8

28 SEPThome

Portsmouth

Sheffield United

ChampionshipRound 7

21 SEPTaway

Burnley

Portsmouth

ChampionshipRound 6

Head-to-head

4Wins

2Draws

4Wins

The two sides have met 10 times.

21 JAN2026

Watford

Portsmouth

Championship

1 OCT2025

Portsmouth

Watford

Championship

21 APR2025

Portsmouth

Watford

Championship

26 DEC2024

Watford

Portsmouth

Championship

2 JAN2012

Portsmouth

Watford

Championship

19 NOV2011

Watford

Portsmouth

Championship

1 JAN2011

Watford

Portsmouth

Championship

16 OCT2010

Portsmouth

Watford

Championship

9 APR2007

Watford

Portsmouth

Premier League

18 NOV2006

Portsmouth

Watford

Premier League

Trends

Win %

35%30%

Over 1.5 %

70%74%

Over 2.5 %

57%61%

Over 3.5 %

15%28%

BTTS %

57%57%

Failed to score %

24%30%

Clean sheets %

26%22%

Share of this season's matches where it happened — a win, over 1.5 / 2.5 / 3.5 goals, both teams scoring, failing to score, a clean sheet.

Season comparison

Goals / match

1.151.26

Conceded / match

1.331.54

Possession %

52.6744.83

Corners / match

5.285.63

Yellow cards / match

2.412.7

Team rating

6.936.89

Starting XI

PortsmouthFormation: 4-4-2 · €36M6/11

John Mousinho

WatfordFormation: 3-4-2-1 · €15M5/11

Tom Cleverley

The ↓ and minute under a player mean they were substituted off then.

Transfer fees

Watford€15Mstarting XI · 5/11€29Mwith bench · 11/20

Portsmouth€36Mstarting XI · 6/11€36Mwith bench · 8/20

Portsmouth's starting XI cost €21M more.

The amount under a player is their last known transfer fee and its year (provider data) — not a market value.

Watford — bench

Francisco SierraltaDefender · €1.8M (2025)7

Tom InceMidfielder · €58K (2023)11

Rocco VataAttacker7.5 14

Pierre DwomohMidfielder · €1M (2024)17

Moussa SissokoMidfielder · €2M (2022)6.3 19

Vakoun BayoAttacker · €5.8M (2022)6.4 23

Jonathan BondGoalkeeper36

Festy EboseleDefender45

Ryan AndrewsDefender · €3M (2025)6.4

Portsmouth — bench

Christian SaydeeAttacker16

Tom McIntyreDefender · €90K (2024)17

Owen MoxonMidfielder6.0 18

Elias SørensenAttacker · €425K (2026)20

Sam SilveraAttacker24

Terry DevlinMidfielder6.5 25

Abdoulaye KamaraMidfielder31

Jordan ArcherGoalkeeper32

Paddy LaneAttacker6.6

Player statistics

Watford starters then subs, by rating

Mattie Pollock#6 · Defender · 90′7.5

In this match

Attack

Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Shots: 1
Shots on target: 0
Expected goals (xG): 0.07

Passing

Passes (accurate/total): 75/86
Pass accuracy: 87%
Key passes: 0
Passes in final third: 5
Long balls (won/total): 1/5

Possession & duels

Touches: 101
Duels (won/total): 11/13
Aerials won: 9
Possession lost: 11
Ball recoveries: 3

Defence

Tackles: 1
Interceptions: 2
Clearances: 6

Discipline

Fouls: 0
Fouls drawn: 1

Player	Reason	Back
Ibane Bowat🩹 injury · Patellar Tendon Rupture	injury · Patellar Tendon Rupture	1 Jul 2025
Anthony Scully🩹 injury · Ankle Injury	injury · Ankle Injury	16 Mar 2025

Outcome	bet365	Unibet
Watford	1.8354.56%	1.7457.47%
Draw	3.6027.78%	3.7526.67%
Portsmouth	4.2023.81%	4.5022.22%

Outcome	bet365	Unibet
Watford or Draw	1.2281.83%	1.1984.03%
Watford or Portsmouth	1.2877.82%	1.2480.65%
Draw or Portsmouth	1.9052.38%	2.0050%

Outcome	bet365	Unibet
2+ goals	–	1.2281.97%
0–1 goals	–	4.1024.39%
3+ goals	1.8055.56%	1.7656.82%
0–2 goals	2.0050%	2.0249.5%
4+ goals	–	3.0532.79%
0–3 goals	–	1.3673.53%

Outcome	bet365	Unibet
Watford	2.4041.67%	2.3243.1%
Draw	2.2544.44%	2.2544.44%
Portsmouth	4.3323.08%	4.5022.22%

Outcome	bet365
WAT → WAT	3.0033.33%
WAT → X	13.007.69%
WAT → PTM	34.002.94%
X → WAT	4.7521.05%
X → X	6.0016.67%
X → PTM	8.5011.76%
PTM → WAT	21.004.76%
PTM → X	15.006.67%
PTM → PTM	6.5015.38%

Outcome	bet365
12 - 14	3.7526.67%
6 - 8	3.6027.78%
9 - 11	2.6238.1%
Under 6	13.007.69%
Over 14	7.0014.29%

Outcome	bet365	Unibet
3+ cards	–	1.1686.21%
0–2 cards	–	4.3023.26%
4+ cards	–	1.4668.49%
0–3 cards	–	2.4840.32%
5+ cards	2.0050%	1.9850.51%
0–4 cards	1.7257.9%	1.7258.14%
6+ cards	–	2.9034.48%
0–5 cards	–	1.3574.07%
7+ cards	–	4.3522.99%
0–6 cards	–	1.1785.47%

#	Team	P	Pts
1	Swansea City	8	17
2	West Ham United	8	15
3	Middlesbrough	8	15
4	Wolverhampton Wanderers	7	14
5	West Bromwich Albion	8	14
6	Queens Park Rangers	8	13
7	Stoke City	8	13
8	Bristol City	8	13
9	Charlton Athletic	8	12
10	Birmingham City	8	11
11	Millwall	8	11
12	Lincoln City	8	11
13	Southampton	8	10
14	Wrexham	8	10
15	Bolton Wanderers	8	10
16	Blackburn Rovers	8	9
17	Norwich City	8	9
18	Sheffield United	8	9
19	Portsmouth	7	8
20	Watford	8	8
21	Cardiff City	8	7
22	Derby County	8	5
23	Preston North End	8	4
24	Burnley	8	4

Possession and passing

Attack

Defence and discipline

Other

Possession and passing

Attack

Defence and discipline

Other

Possession and passing

Attack

Defence and discipline

Other

Watford — bench

Portsmouth — bench

Watford starters then subs, by rating

Attack

Passing

Possession & duels

Defence

Discipline

Attack

Passing

Possession & duels

Defence

Discipline

Attack

Passing

Possession & duels

Defence

Discipline

Attack

Passing

Possession & duels

Defence

Discipline

Attack

Passing

Possession & duels

Defence

Discipline

Attack

Passing

Possession & duels

Defence

Discipline

Attack

Passing

Possession & duels

Defence

Discipline

Attack

Passing

Possession & duels

Defence

Discipline

Attack

Passing

Possession & duels

Defence

Discipline

Goalkeeping

Passing

Possession & duels

Defence

Discipline

Attack

Passing

Possession & duels

Defence

Discipline

Attack

Passing

Possession & duels

Defence

Discipline

Attack

Passing

Possession & duels

Defence

Discipline