Photo via Sky Sports

Resurgent Stoke win at Watford

Stoke City secured their opening road victory since January by defeating Watford 2-1, following an earlier midweek 1-1 outcome at Cardiff that halted a nine-game away losing skid and establishing a run of three victories across four Championship fixtures. Boosted by 10 close-season acquisitions—such as £10 million ex-Manchester United youth product Ethan Galbraith arriving from Swansea alongside £4 million deadline-day capture Jack McGlynn from Houston Dynamo—the visitors commanded early play.

Eric Bocat wasted a clean opening and delivered a cross that Lamine Cisse headed over, while Galbraith drew a diving stop from Federico Ravaglia before Cisse had a finish chalked off due to offside. Watford took 35 minutes to record any shot, when Othmane Maamma volleyed well wide after Stoke posted 10 straight attempts, though Maksym Talovierov did have to produce a vital sliding block on Mamadou Doumbia.

Injury troubles worsened for the hosts when Jordan Zemura exited before the break, and in stoppage time McGlynn drove an edge-of-the-box strike into the top corner.

Stoke maintained their dominance after the interval as Cisse struck the crossbar and Justin Devenny directed Ben Johnson's low delivery off target. Bocat then extended the margin 12 minutes into the second half, cutting inside from the left to drive a low shot past Ravaglia.

Alessio Dionisi had limited options among eight reserves lacking any central midfielders—featuring two netminders, two right-sided defenders, and two strikers including Michail Antonio, who joined on a one-year agreement on Friday despite not featuring in England since December. Although Amin Nabizada grabbed a late consolation for Watford, Stoke held firm to snap their 10-match winless stretch on the road.

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