The New Year kicked off with a compelling Championship clash at Vicarage Road as Watford hosted Birmingham City on January 1, 2026. The Hornets, riding a six-game unbeaten streak, were keen to extend their run to seven, while the Blues arrived desperate to reverse their dismal away fortunes that have plagued them throughout 2025. With both teams fighting for different ambitions in the table, anticipation was high and the stakes even higher.
Watford entered the match in impressive form, having won four and drawn two since their last defeat—a 2-1 loss to Birmingham City exactly a month prior. That result, however, was the only blemish in an otherwise stellar run at home, where the Hornets have been nearly imperious. Birmingham, in contrast, had endured a torrid time on the road, suffering eight defeats in twelve away games and managing just two victories. Their away form, reminiscent of their struggles in the 2023/24 season that ended in relegation, left many wondering if a turnaround was possible against one of the Championship’s home juggernauts.
The team news ahead of kickoff set the tone for the afternoon. Watford, managed by Javi Gracia—who replaced Paulo Pezzolano back in October—were missing a few key players. Kwadwo Baah and Rocco Vata were sidelined with hamstring injuries, and Mamadou Doumbia was away on international duty, representing Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite these absences, the Hornets boasted a strong lineup, with midfield maestros Imran Louza, Othmane Maama, and the creative Georgi Chakvetadze all starting. James Abankwah slotted in at right-back, replacing the unavailable Jeremy Ngakia.
Birmingham City, meanwhile, faced their own selection headaches. Manager Chris Davies, himself a Watford supporter in his youth, was forced to watch from the press box as he served a touchline ban—a situation not unfamiliar to him, but one that certainly didn’t help his out-of-form squad. The Blues were without attacking lynchpins Demarai Gray (calf injury) and Jay Stansfield (injury), the latter having been involved in over a third of Birmingham’s league goals this season. Keshi Anderson returned to the starting eleven, while Alex Cochrane made his comeback after a spell out with an ankle problem. The visitors lined up in their white, blue, and black away strip, with Kyogo Furuhashi leading the line.
From the opening whistle, it was clear that Watford were in no mood to let their visitors settle. The Hornets struck early, breaking the deadlock in just the ninth minute. Chakvetadze, a constant threat throughout the first half, delivered a deep cross that found Tom Ince unmarked at the far post. Ince volleyed home with aplomb, capitalizing on a momentary lapse in Birmingham’s defensive concentration. It marked the third time in four away games that Birmingham had conceded inside the opening ten minutes—a worrying trend for the traveling fans, who voiced their frustrations with chants of "sideways and backwards everywhere we go" as another attack fizzled out.
Watford continued to press, exploiting Birmingham’s lack of cohesion and confidence. The Blues, missing the creative spark of Gray and the finishing touch of Stansfield, struggled to muster meaningful attacks. Their best first-half opportunity came when Patrick Roberts dragged a shot wide after a neat flick from Sampsted, but it was a rare moment of promise in an otherwise toothless display.
The Hornets doubled their advantage before the break, with Ince once again the man of the moment. Maama whipped in a cross from the right, and although Blues goalkeeper Beadle managed to save Ince’s initial effort, the winger was quickest to react, stabbing home the rebound to make it 2-0. As the halftime whistle sounded, boos echoed from the away end—Birmingham were staring down the barrel of a ninth defeat in thirteen away fixtures, and the mood was decidedly grim.
"Watford haven’t had to get out of second gear to go two goals up," observed one reporter, reflecting the general consensus that the home side were cruising. The Hornets’ midfield trio—Louza, Maama, and Chakvetadze—were dictating play, and their attacking options, including top scorer Luca Kjerrumgaard (seven goals in twenty games), ensured that Watford always looked likely to add to their tally.
Birmingham, for their part, had little to offer in response. With Davies’ options limited—Koumas, Ducksch, and Dykes the only real attacking alternatives on the bench—the Blues were forced to soldier on with a depleted lineup. There was some speculation among the traveling support about the possible introduction of Japanese playmaker Kanya Fujimoto, who had played just ten minutes in the league since arriving from Gil Vicente. Despite warming up with the starters, Fujimoto remained an unused substitute, leaving fans to question his role in Davies’ plans.
As the match wore on, it became apparent that Birmingham’s woes were as much psychological as tactical. Their away record—statistically the worst in the Championship—was compounded by a lack of cutting edge and a defense that too often switched off at key moments. The absence of Gray and Stansfield left them bereft of inspiration, and the transfer window’s opening brought little immediate comfort, though the imminent signing of Philadelphia Union left-back Kai Wagner (two goals and eleven assists in MLS last season) offered a glimmer of hope for the weeks ahead.
Watford, meanwhile, looked every inch a team with playoff ambitions. Sitting sixth in the table and seven points ahead of their visitors, the Hornets have found consistency under Gracia’s stewardship. Their ability to control games at home, combined with the firepower of players like Ince and Kjerrumgaard, has made Vicarage Road a fortress once more.
With the action still ongoing as of press time, Watford held a commanding 2-0 lead at halftime, thanks to Tom Ince’s clinical finishing and the creative influence of Chakvetadze. Birmingham City, lacking key personnel and confidence, faced an uphill battle to salvage anything from the match. As the second half beckoned, all eyes were on whether the Hornets would press home their advantage or if the Blues could muster a dramatic turnaround to kickstart their New Year.
Whatever the outcome, the first forty-five minutes at Vicarage Road told a familiar story: Watford, resurgent and ruthless at home, and Birmingham City, still searching for answers on the road. The Championship drama is far from over, but for now, the Hornets look set to continue their march up the table while the Blues are left to regroup and hope for brighter days ahead.
