Preview: Watford vs. Stoke City - prediction, team news, lineups

In a dead rubber between two clubs who were recently in the Premier League, both will have to settle for a mid-table finish this season.

Match preview

Overall, it has been another messy season at Watford in their first season back since relegation from the top flight.

There will be no immediate return to the Premier League for the Hornets, who have gone through three permanent managers this season alone.

Rob Edwards, Slaven Bilic and Chris Wilder have all taken charge in the current campaign, but none has made a huge impact as Watford find themselves in the bottom half, eight points off the playoffs.

Their target for the final day will be to avoid finishing in the bottom half for just the second time in their last seven seasons at this level.

However, recent home form has let them down, as Watford have lost two of their last three at Vicarage Road, having lost none of their first seven here in 2023.

With a win most likely going to be needed to move themselves into the top half, Watford have won only three of their last 18 games.

Despite that, Stoke have been favourable opponents for the Hornets recently, winning in their last three meetings.

Stoke themselves will want to finish a disappointing season on a high, as they have never finished as low as their current position of 16th in the Championship.

Three points for the visitors will only take them as high as 15th, after the Potters only mathematically sealed their safety a few weeks ago.

Stoke have not lost on the final day of the season since they were a Premier League club though - 11 years ago - and having gone six unbeaten now away from home, the current crop of players will feel they can keep that impressive run going.

Watford Championship form:

L

D

W

L

L

D

Stoke City Championship form:

L

D

L

L

D

L

Team News

Watford have a number of injury absentees ahead of this clash, especially in midfield, where Tom Cleverley, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Edo Kayembe and Dan Gosling are all out.

At the back, Francisco Sierralta is still recovering from a broken ankle, while Aston Villa loanee Kortney Hause is out with a knee injury.

Britt Assombalonga has also been ruled out, and Joao Ferreira is doubtful after a month out, while Joao Pedro may be left out again after agreeing to join Brighton & Hove Albion next season.

In what could also be his final game for the club, Ismaila Sarr will face one of his favourite opponents, having scored in all three of his previous appearances against Stoke.

Stoke will be without a few of their regular starters for the trip to Vicarage Road, as Jacob Brown and Ben Wilmot are both out.

Goalkeeper Matija Sarkic is unlikely to feature, as well as Axel Tuanzebe, whose loan from Manchester United has seen him feature just four times.

Watford possible starting lineup:

Bachmann; Andrews, Porteous, Kabasele, Kamara; Choudhury, Louza, Asprilla; Sarr, Davis, Sema

Stoke City possible starting lineup:

Bonham; Sterling, Taylor, Jagielka, Fox, Tymon; Smallbone, Pearson, Laurent; Campbell, Gayle

We say: Watford 1-1 Stoke City

There should not be much between two sides who have underperformed this season in a game with nothing riding on it to finish the campaign.

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