Updated 5 November 2026.
Saturday's 3pm kick-off at Vicarage Road puts the Championship's top side against one of its strugglers. Watford are 20th on 14 points from 14 games, while Middlesbrough lead the Championship table on 28 points. Boro have scored 30 goals in those 14 games, Watford only 13.
Watford beat Lincoln 1-0 on Tuesday after two straight defeats, but Boro have lost only twice this season.
Watford have won two of their last five league games. The latest was a 1-0 home win over Lincoln, after defeats of 3-2 at Norwich and 1-0 at Wolves. Before those came a 2-0 home win over Charlton and a 5-1 defeat at Cardiff. Over their last 10 league games they have won three and lost seven.
Watford average 0.93 goals a game, the 4th fewest in the division, and take 3.64 corners, the 2nd fewest. At the other end they concede 1.64 per game, the 9th most. They have kept a clean sheet in 14% of their games, the 8th lowest rate, and their 3.93 shots on target a game are the 12th fewest. They also pick up the most cards in the Championship, with a card count of 2.79 a game.
Middlesbrough lost 2-0 at Wrexham on Wednesday, but it was only their second defeat of the season. Before that came a 3-0 home win over Charlton, a 5-1 win at Bolton, a 2-2 draw with Cardiff and a 3-2 win at Stoke.
Boro score 2.14 goals a game, the 2nd most in the Championship, and put away 6.29 shots on target a game, also 2nd. They concede 1.36 a game, the 10th fewest, and have kept clean sheets in 21% of their games. Both teams have scored in 71% of their matches, the 3rd highest rate, and 71% have gone over 2.5 goals, the 5th highest. They also pick up the fewest cards in the division at 1.07 a game.
Watford possible starting lineup:
Ravaglia; Traoré, Pollock, Keben, Bola; Kyprianou, Kayembe, Maamma; Mavididi, Boadu, Bravo
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Vitek; Ayling, Malanda, Phillips, Borges; Morris, Berhalter; Cozier-Duberry, Conway, Joseph, Brittain
Aidan Morris has made at least one tackle in 13 straight games for Boro, averaging 3.3 a game.
Amario Cozier-Duberry has had two or more shots in five straight games, averaging 4.6 over that run, and is 1.10 at Ladbrokes for two or more.
Callum Brittain has taken a shot in each of his last five and is 1.44 at bet365 to do it again. He has had two or more in three of those five.
For Watford, Edo Kayembe has had a shot in seven straight games, averaging 2 a game, and is 1.20 at Ladbrokes for another.
Iker Bravo has committed a foul in four straight games and is 1.36 at Midnite to make it five.
We back Middlesbrough to win, and they are 1.57 at Coral. We give them a 59% chance, against 23% for the draw and 18% for a Watford win. Our projection is 1.99 goals for Boro and 1.03 for Watford.
| Market | Best price | Statz chance |
|---|---|---|
| Watford win | 5.50 (Midnite) | 18% |
| Draw | 4.50 (Ladbrokes) | 23% |
| Middlesbrough win | 1.57 (Coral) | 59% |
| Both teams to score | 1.55 (Ladbrokes) | 56% |
| Over 2.5 goals | 1.50 (bet365) | 58% |
We predict Watford 1-1 Middlesbrough, the likeliest single score at 11%, though we make Middlesbrough clearly more likely to win the game. Both teams to score is a 56% chance in our model and over 2.5 goals is 58%.
Watford vs Middlesbrough in the 2026/27 Championship kicks off at 15:00 UK time on Saturday 7 November 2026 at Vicarage Road, with Watford 20th on 14 points and Middlesbrough top of the table on 28 points after 14 games.
We predict Watford 1-1 Middlesbrough in the 2026/27 Championship, the likeliest single score at 11%. We still make Boro the likelier winner at 59%, with the draw at 23% and a Watford win at 18%.
Middlesbrough are favourites at 1.57 with Coral for Watford vs Middlesbrough in the 2026/27 Championship, and our model gives them a 59% chance of winning. Watford are 5.50 with Midnite and the draw is 4.50 with Ladbrokes.
We give both teams to score a 56% chance in Watford vs Middlesbrough in the 2026/27 Championship, and Ladbrokes offer 1.55. Both sides have scored in 71% of Middlesbrough's matches, the 3rd highest rate in the division.
In Watford vs Middlesbrough in the 2026/27 Championship, Aidan Morris has made a tackle in 13 straight games for Middlesbrough, averaging 3.3 a game. Edo Kayembe has had a shot in seven in a row for Watford.
Middlesbrough lead the 2026/27 Championship with 28 points from 14 games, while Watford are 20th on 14 points, so 14 points separate them before Saturday's match at Vicarage Road.
Watford's predicted XI for this 2026/27 Championship game starts with Ravaglia in goal and Mavididi, Boadu and Bravo up front. Middlesbrough's starts with Vitek in goal and Conway and Joseph leading the attack.