What to expect
We expect about 1.4 goals from Watford and 1.1 from Preston, so Watford come out ahead by a nose. Put together, that is around 2.4 goals in the game, which is an ordinary sort of total.
Preston come into this on five straight defeats. Recent results are only ever part of the story, but they are worth knowing before kick-off.
Our pick: Both teams to score. Both of these carry enough of a threat to find the net (xG 1.4-1.1), and we make both teams to score about 50%. Expect goals at either end rather than a one-sided shut-out.
We put the chance of that landing at about 50 out of 100. There is no settled price to hold that up against yet, so treat the call on its own terms.
What the numbers say
✓Watford have won one of their last five.
✓Preston have not won any of their last five.
✓Three of the last five meetings had three goals or more.
✓Both teams scored in three of the last five meetings.
Recent meetings
14 Feb 2026Preston 2 - 2 Watford
25 Nov 2025Watford 1 - 1 Preston
21 Jan 2025Watford 1 - 2 Preston
2 Oct 2024Preston 3 - 0 Watford
6 Apr 2024Watford 0 - 0 Preston
