Bocat strikes as Stoke climb into top 10 | OneFootball

Match in Five Sentences: Stoke City beat Watford 2-1 at Vicarage Road. Jack McGlynn put Stoke ahead in the eighth minute of first half stoppage time, and Eric Junior Bocat added a second (57.). After the restart, Stoke's control told, before Amin Nabizada pulled one back in the first minute of second half stoppage time. Stoke registered 18 attempts to Hornets' six and had 58.9% possession, reflecting the visitors' grip on the game. Stoke climb from 22nd to ninth and host Sheffield United next, while The Hornets drop from 14th to 17th and visit Bristol City.

Player of the Match: Eric Junior Bocat decided the contest with his second half strike, adding three shots and 11 successful final third passes to cap a high-impact display down the left.

Stat of the Match: Ben Wilmot made 10 clearances, a dominant aerial and penalty-area presence as Stoke managed the closing stages.

Three Things We Learned: Stoke's front-foot approach was backed by numbers, with 18 total attempts and 58.9% possession driving the result. Jack McGlynn combined end product with control, scoring the opener and completing 36 of 41 passes with 14 successful final third deliveries. The Hornets' bench carried threat late on, with Amin Nabizada scoring and Edo Kayembe providing the assist.