Stoke take three points away at Watford

Stoke have claimed a 1-0 win over Watford at Vicarage Road to move up to 11th in the Premier League table.

A game of little quality saw just three shots on target, with an own goal from goalkeeper Heurelo Gomes separating the sides at the final whistle - the keeper knocking a header from Charlie Adam into his own net.

The three points sees Mark Hughes’ Stoke up to 11th, with Watford three places above them in eighth.

It wasn't until after the opening quarter hour that the first chance of the tie came with Giannelli Imbula striding into space on the edge of the Watford area and unleashing a hammer of a shot at goal, which curled right and wide but would have been unstoppable had it been a little more astute in its accuracy.

Etienne Capoue had the first meaningful shot on target in the tie as he smashed a drive down the middle with some venom; the angle, however, was handy for Lee Grant in the Stoke net and he claimed well.

The Hornets suffered a setback after 20 minutes as key defender Younes Kaboul left the field with injury to be replaced by Christian Kabasele – a man who had played just eight minutes in Watford’s last five matches.

Ireland international Jon Walters got on the end of a cross into the box as the game ticked towards the half hour, but his flick on could only be directed into the hands of Heurelho Gomes in goal.

Stoke had looked the better of the teams for the entirety of the first 45 and were rewarded with the opener. A Xherdan Shaqiri corner from the right was swung into the box for Adam to rise and meet it with a downward header, which struck the base of the post, and rebounded into keeper Gomes, who caught unawares, directed the ball into his own net. The lead stood to the break as the home side failed to carve any real opportunities to level matters.

Stoke continued to dominate after the interval with Marko Arnautovic escaping down the flank and crossing for Walters, with the Irish target man just failing to get the touch he needed to direct the ball home. Walters was again involved as he flicked on a free-kick for Adam to connect with, but the former Liverpool man failed to direct his header under the bar.

As the game ticked past the hour neither side created much in terms of an opening; Stoke were happy to hold onto possession and maintain their one-nil lead, while Walter Mazzarri brought Odion Ighalo into the fray for Jose Holebas as he looked to get his side moving in the final third. Watford needed something as they were simply failing to find any way of denting Stoke going forward – so much so that with 20 to go they had failed to record a shot on goal in the second period. And the change immediately produced an improved attack with Ighalo getting on the end of a cross from Miguel Britos from the left to head on towards goal, only for the effort to lack the power or accuracy to really trouble Grant between the sticks; the fact that the effort came off Ighalo’s shoulder rather than his head having a lot to do with it.

Watford continued to press as they sprayed balls into the box from the right with Martins Indi only half-clearing and the ball falling to Dutchman Daryl Janmaat, who blasted the ball at goal with the shot flying right and wide when he should have at least put it on target and forced the keeper into action.

The home side pressed for the duration of the final ten minutes but they gained little change as Stoke held resolute and cleared the danger with relative ease. Watford’s afternoon was summed up when Britos was given his marching orders for a second yellow in the dying minutes when he hauled down Shaqiri out of pure frustration more than anything else. An afternoon to forget for the home side and a totally deserved win for Hughes' squad.

Photo (©Getty Images/Alex Morton)

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