Watford 2-1 Middlesbrough

Current streaks

Recent form

Watford

Watford's recent form has been concerning, with the team experiencing a difficult run of results. Despite sitting in 8th position in the league, their last six games across all competitions have yielded just one win, one draw, and four losses. The team is currently on a two-game losing streak, having suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to Preston in their most recent match. Defensively, Watford has struggled, conceding 12 goals in their last six games (an average of 2 per game) and failing to keep a clean sheet during this period. The 4-1 loss to Norwich stands out as a particularly high-scoring game, contributing to their negative goal difference of -7. Interestingly, 67% of their recent matches have seen both teams score and over 2.5 goals, suggesting that while Watford is struggling defensively, their games are often entertaining for neutral spectators.

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough's recent form shows a mixed but generally positive trend, with the team currently sitting in 6th position in the Championship. They are on a two-game winning streak in the league, which has helped them climb the table. Notably, Middlesbrough has kept three clean sheets in their last six matches, demonstrating improved defensive solidity. However, their goal-scoring average of 1 goal per game suggests room for offensive improvement. A standout result in this period was the heavy 5-0 defeat to Stoke City in the League Cup, which appears to be an anomaly given their otherwise strong defensive record. Interestingly, 83% of their recent games have seen under 2.5 goals, indicating a tendency towards low-scoring encounters.

Recent home/away form

Watford

Watford's recent home form has been impressive, with a notable run of five consecutive wins across all competitions before a draw in their most recent match. The team has been particularly strong defensively, conceding only three goals in their last six home games and keeping three clean sheets. Their attacking prowess is evident, scoring 15 goals in this period, averaging 2.5 goals per game. Two high-scoring games stand out: a 5-0 victory over Milton Keynes Dons in the League Cup and a 3-0 win against Stoke City in the Championship. The team's goal difference of +12 over these six games is remarkable, and they've consistently provided entertaining matches with 67% of games featuring over 2.5 goals. This strong home form has contributed significantly to their current 8th position in the league.

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough's recent away form shows a mixed but generally positive trend. In their last six away games, they've secured three wins, one draw, and two losses, demonstrating resilience on the road. Notably, they've maintained an impressive defensive record, conceding only two goals in these six matches and keeping four clean sheets. The standout performance was a convincing 3-0 victory against Leeds United in the League Cup, which was their highest-scoring game in this stretch. While they've struggled to find the net consistently, scoring six goals across these games, their defensive solidity has been key to their success. The team has shown a tendency for low-scoring encounters, with 83% of these away games featuring under 2.5 goals, and interestingly, none of these matches saw both teams score. This defensive strength has likely contributed to their current 6th position in the league, accumulating 14 points from 8 games overall.