Watford vs Preston North End — Match Preview
Under the floodlights at Vicarage Road, Watford host high-flying Preston North End in a crucial Championship encounter this Tuesday night. The mood in Hertfordshire is cautiously optimistic after a chaotic 3-2 win over Derby County last weekend, a result that hinted Tom Cleverley’s side might finally be turning a corner.
However, they face a Preston side that, despite sitting 4th in the table, is currently decimated by injuries and suspensions. Paul Heckingbottom’s men saw their unbeaten run snapped by a 2-1 loss to Blackburn in the Lancashire derby on Saturday. With key midfielders missing and a makeshift lineup expected, this is a massive test of the Lilywhites’ promotion credentials. Can the Hornets sting a wounded Preston, or will North End’s tactical discipline shine through?
Watford vs Preston North End — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Watford vs Preston North End
- Competition: Championship (Matchday 17)
- Venue: Vicarage Road, Watford (Capacity: 22,200)
- Date: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
- Kickoff Time: 19:45 GMT / 20:45 CET / 01:15 IST (Wednesday)
- Referee: James Bell
- TV Channel (UK): Sky Sports+ (Red Button)
- TV Channel (USA): Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo
- TV Channel (India): FanCode (Live Stream)
- Live Stream: Watford iFollow, PNE Player
Watford vs Preston North End — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Watford:
- Position: 11th in Championship
- Form: Improving. They have lost just once in their last 5 games (W-D-D-W-L), showing grit to snatch points even when not playing their best.
- Current Challenge: Capitalizing on home advantage against a depleted opponent to climb into the top half.
Preston North End:
- Position: 5th in Championship (Promotion Contenders).
- Form: Strong but stalling. Before the Blackburn loss, they were flying with wins over Swansea, Southampton, and Sheffield United.
- Current Challenge: Managing a full-blown injury crisis. With 7 key players out (including their captain and vice-captain), avoiding back-to-back defeats is the priority.
Watford vs Preston North End — What’s at Stake
For Watford:
- Momentum: A win here would make it back-to-back victories and could jump them as high as 11th. It’s a chance to prove they can beat the league’s top teams.
For Preston North End:
- Staying in the Pack: The top of the Championship is tight. Dropping points again could see them slide out of the automatic promotion conversation. They need a “siege mentality” result.
Watford vs Preston North End — Team Form
Watford (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Derby County (3-2)
- D vs Bristol City (1-1)
- D vs Ipswich Town (1-1)
- W vs Middlesbrough (3-0)
- L vs Coventry (1-3)
Preston North End (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs Blackburn (1-2)
- D vs Millwall (1-1)
- W vs Swansea (2-1)
- W vs Southampton (2-0)
- W vs Sheffield Utd (3-2)
Watford vs Preston North End — Team News
Watford:
- Giorgi Chakvetadze: Out (Foot Injury – A massive blow to their creativity).
- Jack Grieves: Out (Ankle Injury).
- Kwadwo Baah: Questionable (Injury – Late fitness test).
- Caleb Wiley: Questionable (Muscle Injury).
- Imrân Louza: Available (Expected to pull the strings in midfield).
Preston North End:
- Milutin Osmajić: Suspended (Red Card vs Blackburn).
- Ben Whiteman: Suspended (Yellow Cards accumulation – Captain is missing).
- Robbie Brady: Out (Calf Injury).
- Ali McCann: Out (Broken Hand).
- Brad Potts: Out (Muscle Injury).
- Andrija Vukčević: Out (Muscle Injury – Left side is bare).
- Lewis Gibson: Out (Injury).
- Liam Lindsay: Available (Vital for defensive leadership).
Watford vs Preston North End — Head to Head
- 22 Jan 2025: Watford 1–2 Preston
- 03 Oct 2024: Preston 3–0 Watford
- 06 Apr 2024: Watford 0–0 Preston
- 16 Dec 2023: Preston 1–5 Watford
- 04 Mar 2023: Watford 0–0 Preston
Watford vs Preston North End — Predicted Lineups
Watford (3-4-2-1):
Without Chakvetadze, Cleverley will rely on Ince and Sema for creativity. Vakoun Bayo leads the line after his goal against Derby.
- GK: Nathan Baxter
- CB: Ryan Porteous (if not sold)/Mattie Pollock
- CB: Angelo Ogbonna
- CB: James Morris
- RWB: Jeremy Ngakia
- CM: Edo Kayembe
- CM: Moussa Sissoko (C)
- LWB: Ken Sema
- CAM: Tom Ince
- CAM: Rocco Vata (Replacing Chakvetadze)
- ST: Vakoun Bayo
Preston North End (3-5-2):
Heckingbottom has a headache. With Whiteman and McCann out, Ryan Ledson and Thórdarson must step up. Thierry Small fills the void at LWB.
- GK: Freddie Woodman
- CB: Jordan Storey
- CB: Liam Lindsay
- CB: Andrew Hughes
- RWB: Kaine Kesler-Hayden
- CM: Ryan Ledson (C)
- CM: Stefán Teitur Thórdarson
- CM: Mads Frøkjær-Jensen
- LWB: Thierry Small
- ST: Will Keane
- ST: Emil Riis Jakobsen
Watford vs Preston North End — Impact Bench Options
Watford:
- Mileta Rajovic: The towering striker is perfect for late crosses if Watford are chasing a goal.
- Yáser Asprilla: Even if he doesn’t start, his magic off the bench can unlock tired defenses.
Preston North End:
- Duane Holmes: With so many midfielders out, Holmes’ energy and versatility will be crucial in the second half.
- Layton Stewart: A young striker who might get minutes given Osmajić’s suspension.
Watford vs Preston North End — Tactical Outlook
Watford:
- Playing Style: Wing-Focused Attack. Cleverley wants to use the width of Sema and Ngakia to stretch Preston’s makeshift defense. Without Chakvetadze centrally, they will focus heavily on crosses into the box for Bayo.
- Weakness: Defensive Transitions. They conceded 3 against Derby despite winning. If Preston break quickly, Watford’s back three can be exposed.
Preston North End:
- Playing Style: Compact & Direct. Without their main ball-playing midfielders (Whiteman/McCann), Preston will likely surrender possession and play long balls to Riis to hold up. They will rely on set-pieces to score.
- Strength: Aerial Threat. Liam Lindsay and Jordan Storey are monsters in both boxes. Watford struggle defending corners.
Watford vs Preston North End — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Ken Sema vs. Kaine Kesler-Hayden | The Wide Duel: Sema is strong and direct. Kesler-Hayden has pace but lacks defensive discipline. | Watford |
| Moussa Sissoko vs. Mads Frøkjær-Jensen | Power vs. Finesse: Sissoko will try to bully the Dane. Frøkjær-Jensen needs to find pockets of space to create. | Even |
| Mattie Pollock vs. Emil Riis | Heavyweight Fight: Riis is fast and strong. Pollock loves a physical battle. Who wins the first ball decides the game. | Preston |
Watford vs Preston North End — Spotlight Players
Tom Ince (Watford):
In the absence of Chakvetadze, Ince is the creative hub. His set-piece delivery will be vital, and his experience in the Championship is key to unlocking a stubborn Preston block.
Mads Frøkjær-Jensen (Preston):
He is arguably the only creative midfielder left standing for Preston. Everything good they do will go through him. He has to carry the burden of the entire team’s attack on his shoulders.
Watford vs Preston North End — Fan Reactions
Watford Fans:
“Finally a win against Derby! Let’s keep it going. Preston are missing half their team, no excuses.”
“Chakvetadze out is a worry, but Vata deserves a chance.”
Preston Fans:
“No Whiteman, no McCann, no Brady, no Osmajic… are we playing the U21s?”
“A draw would be a miracle with this lineup. Just don’t get battered.”
Watford vs Preston North End — Match-Defining Factors
- Preston’s Depleted Midfield: Without their captain Whiteman and engine McCann, Preston might struggle to control the game. Watford should dominate possession.
- Vicarage Road Factor: Watford have been decent at home recently (beating Boro 3-0). The crowd will expect a win against a weakened side.
- Discipline: With Preston frustrated by injuries and coming off a derby loss, they might be prone to rash challenges. Referee James Bell isn’t afraid to show cards.
Watford vs Preston North End — Prediction
Score Prediction: Watford 2–1 Preston North End
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Watford to Win.
- Both Teams to Score: YES (Watford rarely keep clean sheets; Preston will threaten from corners).
- Total Cards: Over 4.5 Cards (Preston will have to foul to stop counters).
Analysis: It is hard to look past Watford here simply due to Preston’s injury list. Losing their entire starting midfield and left side is too much to overcome away from home. Expect Preston to fight bravely, but Watford’s squad depth should eventually wear them down.
Watford vs Preston North End — Final Word
This feels like the perfect storm for Watford. They are finding form just as Preston are hitting a crisis point with personnel. While the Championship is unpredictable, Paul Heckingbottom would likely bite your hand off for a point right now. Expect the Hornets to capitalize on their opponent’s misfortune and secure a vital three points.
Watford vs Preston North End — FAQs
When is the Watford vs Preston match?
The match is on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, at 19:45 GMT.
Is Giorgi Chakvetadze playing?
No, he is ruled out with a foot injury.
Who is suspended for Preston?
Milutin Osmajić (Red Card) and Ben Whiteman (Yellow Cards) are both suspended.
Where can I watch the match in India?
You can stream the match live on the FanCode app.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
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