Watford 2-1 Preston North End: result and goals
Watford beat Preston North End 2-1 on Tuesday, 8 September 2026 in the Championship.
Goals: Callum Lang 5', Edo Kayembe 69', Mamadou Doumbia 76'.
Watford sit 21st on 11 points.
Preston North End sit 24th on 5 points.
Watford have 0 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats in their last 5 matches.
Preston North End have 1 win, 0 draws and 4 defeats in their last 5 matches.
Last 5 meetings: Watford won 0, Preston North End won 2, 3 drawn.
- Competition
- EFL Championship
- Kick-off
- Tuesday, 8 September 2026, 19:45 (UK time)
- Venue
- Vicarage Road, Watford
- 👥
- 14987
The match in numbers
- A 2-1 win for Watford over Preston North End.
- The first goal came from Callum Lang (Preston North End) on 5'.
- Watford came from behind to win.
Data: ESPN · votes and picks from Scorely users
Goals and cards
Live commentary
- Match ends, Watford 2, Preston North End 1.
- 90'+5'Second Half ends, Watford 2, Preston North End 1.
- 90'+4'Attempt saved. Iker Bravo (Watford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End). Assisted by Luca Kjerrumgaard.
- 90'+2'Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Edo Kayembe.
- 90'+2'Attempt blocked. Jusef Erabi (Preston North End) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Stanley Mills.
- 90'+2'Foul by Iker Bravo (Watford).
- 90'+2'Jordan Thompson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 90'+1'Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
- 90'+1'Iker Bravo (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 90'+1'Foul by Harry Clarke (Preston North End).
- 89'Attempt blocked. Jusef Erabi (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
- 88'Substitution, Watford. Luca Kjerrumgaard replaces Mamadou Doumbia.
- 85'Othmane Maamma (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 85'Foul by Odeluga Offiah (Preston North End).
- 82'Substitution, Preston North End. Thierry Small replaces Alfie Devine.
- 81'Attempt blocked. Delano Burgzorg (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 79'Attempt missed. Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) left footed shot from long range on the right is too high.
- 76'Goal! Watford 2, Preston North End 1. Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Iker Bravo with a cross.
- 75'Substitution, Preston North End. Liam Gibbs replaces Léo Leroy.
- 75'Substitution, Preston North End. Jusef Erabi replaces Callum Lang.
- 74'Attempt missed. Edo Kayembe (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jordan Zemura with a cross.
- 73'Attempt missed. Callum Lang (Preston North End) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Odeluga Offiah with a cross.
- 73'Attempt saved. Delano Burgzorg (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Federico Ravaglia (Watford). Assisted by Alfie Devine with a through ball.
- 71'Jordan Zemura (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 71'Foul by Léo Leroy (Preston North End).
- 69'Goal! Watford 1, Preston North End 1. Edo Kayembe (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner.
- 68'Corner, Watford. Conceded by Harry Clarke.
- 67'Lewis Gibson (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 67'Iker Bravo (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 67'Foul by Lewis Gibson (Preston North End).
- 66'Edo Kayembe (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 66'Foul by Callum Lang (Preston North End).
- 66'Substitution, Preston North End. Stanley Mills replaces Andrija Vukcevic.
- 66'Substitution, Preston North End. Delano Burgzorg replaces Johnny Kenny.
- 65'Foul by Hector Kyprianou (Watford).
- 65'Lewis Gibson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 64'Jordan Zemura (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 64'Foul by Léo Leroy (Preston North End).
- 62'Andrija Vukcevic (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 62'Othmane Maamma (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 62'Foul by Andrija Vukcevic (Preston North End).
- 61'Substitution, Watford. Jordan Zemura replaces Omar Haktab Traoré.
- 60'Foul by Stephy Mavididi (Watford).
- 60'Andrija Vukcevic (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 58'Attempt saved. Harry Clarke (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Federico Ravaglia (Watford). Assisted by Alfie Devine.
- 56'Foul by Mamadou Doumbia (Watford).
- 56'Jordan Storey (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 55'Attempt missed. Mattie Pollock (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
- 53'Attempt missed. Harry Clarke (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Andrija Vukcevic with a cross.
- 49'Foul by Mamadou Doumbia (Watford).
- 49'Jordan Storey (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 49'Attempt missed. Johnny Kenny (Preston North End) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the left. Assisted by Callum Lang following a fast break.
- 47'Attempt missed. Johnny Kenny (Preston North End) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Callum Lang.
- 45'Substitution, Watford. Iker Bravo replaces Martín Payero.
- 45'Substitution, Watford. Stephy Mavididi replaces Amin Nabizada.
- 45'Substitution, Watford. Othmane Maamma replaces Rocco Vata.
- 45'Second Half begins Watford 0, Preston North End 1.
- 45'+2'First Half ends, Watford 0, Preston North End 1.
- 45'+2'Attempt blocked. Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hector Kyprianou.
- 45'+1'Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
- 45'Attempt missed. Edo Kayembe (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
- 43'Offside, Watford. Mamadou Doumbia is caught offside.
- 42'Attempt missed. Kévin Keben (Watford) header from very close range misses to the right. Assisted by Edo Kayembe with a cross.
- 41'Attempt blocked. Amin Nabizada (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Edo Kayembe.
- 41'Soumaïla Coulibaly (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 41'Foul by Callum Lang (Preston North End).
- 38'Attempt missed. Rocco Vata (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Omar Haktab Traoré.
- 35'Foul by Soumaïla Coulibaly (Watford).
- 35'Johnny Kenny (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 33'Attempt blocked. Johnny Kenny (Preston North End) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Harry Clarke.
- 32'Attempt saved. Alfie Devine (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Federico Ravaglia (Watford). Assisted by Léo Leroy.
- 29'Attempt missed. Léo Leroy (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Alfie Devine.
- 27'Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Mattie Pollock.
- 27'Attempt blocked. Johnny Kenny (Preston North End) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
- 26'Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Kévin Keben.
- 21'Attempt saved. Edo Kayembe (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End). Assisted by Mamadou Doumbia.
- 20'Offside, Preston North End. Callum Lang is caught offside.
- 19'Attempt saved. Callum Lang (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Federico Ravaglia (Watford). Assisted by Johnny Kenny with a cross.
- 18'Corner, Watford. Conceded by Jordan Storey.
- 18'Attempt blocked. Amin Nabizada (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mamadou Doumbia.
- 16'Attempt missed. Omar Haktab Traoré (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Martín Payero.
- 13'Attempt missed. Alfie Devine (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Callum Lang.
- 11'Soumaïla Coulibaly (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 11'Foul by Callum Lang (Preston North End).
- 7'Offside, Watford. Mamadou Doumbia is caught offside.
- 5'Goal! Watford 0, Preston North End 1. Callum Lang (Preston North End) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a corner.
- 5'Attempt saved. Jordan Thompson (Preston North End) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Federico Ravaglia (Watford). Assisted by Alfie Devine.
- 5'Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Hector Kyprianou.
- 5'Attempt blocked. Johnny Kenny (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Thompson.
- 3'Foul by Harry Clarke (Preston North End).
- 3'Omar Haktab Traoré (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 3'Foul by Martín Payero (Watford).
- 3'Léo Leroy (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 2'Attempt saved. Rocco Vata (Watford) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End). Assisted by Mamadou Doumbia.
- First Half begins.
- Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Commentary: ESPN
Starting line-ups
Watford · 4-2-3-1
6Matthew PollockCD-R
Substitutes
56Albert EamesSUB
Preston North End · 5-3-2
Substitutes
23Andy MoranSUB
Match stats
WATPNE
61.1Possession (%)38.9
15Shots18
5Shots on target6
2Corners4
7Fouls10
0Yellow cards2
0Red cards0
2Offsides1
5Saves3
Last 5 matches
Watford
D@ Wrexham1-122 Aug 2026
LPeterborough United5-125 Aug 2026
DWest Ham United1-129 Aug 2026
L@ Swansea City2-01 Sept 2026
L@ West Bromwich Albion1-05 Sept 2026
Preston North End
LWolverhampton Wanderers3-122 Aug 2026
LEverton4-026 Aug 2026
L@ Charlton Athletic1-029 Aug 2026
LBristol City3-11 Sept 2026
WBlackburn Rovers2-15 Sept 2026
Head-to-head record
0
Watford
3
Draws
2
Preston
Last meetings
14 Feb 2026Preston North End2 – 2Watford
25 Nov 2025Watford1 – 1Preston North End
21 Jan 2025Watford1 – 2Preston North End
2 Oct 2024Preston North End3 – 0Watford
6 Apr 2024Watford0 – 0Preston North End
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Boro | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | +10 | 25 | DWWDW |
| 2 |  Swansea | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | +3 | 23 | WWWLL |
| 3 |  West Ham | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | +17 | 22 | DDWWL |
| 4 |  Wolves | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | +4 | 21 | LLWDW |
| 5 |  West Brom | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | +3 | 21 | LLWWD |
| 6 |  Southampton | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | +12 | 20 | LWWDW |
| 7 |  Birmingham | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | +8 | 20 | DWWWL |
| 8 |  QPR | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | +8 | 20 | DDWLW |
| 9 |  Stoke | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | +2 | 20 | WWLWD |
| 10 |  Blackburn | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | +3 | 18 | DWWLW |
| 11 |  Portsmouth | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | +1 | 18 | LWWDW |
| 12 |  Sheffield Utd | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | +1 | 16 | LWLWD |
| 13 |  Millwall | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | -1 | 15 | DWLDL |
| 14 |  Bristol City | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | -3 | 15 | WDLLD |
| 15 |  Lincoln City | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | -7 | 15 | LLLDW |
| 16 |  Cardiff | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | +2 | 14 | WLWDW |
| 17 |  Wrexham | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | -3 | 14 | WDLWL |
| 18 |  Bolton | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | -7 | 14 | WLWDL |
| 19 |  Charlton | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | -7 | 14 | LDDLL |
| 20 |  Norwich City | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | -2 | 12 | LLLLW |
| 21 |  Watford | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -10 | 11 | DLDLL |
| 22 |  Burnley | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -8 | 8 | DWDLL |
| 23 |  Derby | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | -11 | 7 | DDLLD |
| 24 |  Preston | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | -15 | 5 | LLLLW |
Championship: upcoming fixtures
FAQ
What was the score in Watford v Preston North End?
Watford beat Preston North End 2-1 on Tuesday 8 September (Championship).
Who scored in Watford v Preston North End?
Goals: Callum Lang 5', Edo Kayembe 69' and Mamadou Doumbia 76'.
When do Watford play next?
Watford play Norwich City on Saturday 31 October at 12:30 (UK time).
When do Preston North End play next?
Preston North End play Stoke City on Saturday 31 October at 12:30 (UK time).
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