Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Middlesbrough 5th with 80 points, Watford 16th with 57, 23 apart. Watford's recent output lagged their position: 24th on form over five rounds while 16th in the table. Against a league average of 1.3 goals per team per game, Middlesbrough ran at 1.57 scored and 1.02 conceded, Watford at 1.15 and 1.41.
Watford arrived off three straight defeats.
23 previous meetings sit in the GioScore records — Middlesbrough 6, draws 5, Watford 12, at 2.35 goals per meeting. Recent editions have opened up: 3.2 goals per game across the last five meetings against 2.35 historically.
Riverside Stadium staged the fixture, a ground that holds 34,988. Middlesbrough led 2-0 at the break, and the second half added 4 goals for the 5-1 full-time score.
Goal scorers
Middlesbrough: Morgan Whittaker (6'), David Strelec (45'), Morgan Whittaker (58'), Tommy Conway (75'), Tommy Conway (90') · Watford: James Abankwah (48')
Key stats
Possession: Middlesbrough 56% · Watford 44% · Total shots: 20-12 · On target: 9-3 · Corners: 6-3