Watford fans at Vicarage Road were treated to a New Year’s Day spectacle as Tom Ince delivered a masterclass, netting a hat-trick to propel the Hornets to a commanding 3-0 victory over a struggling Birmingham City. The win marked Watford’s fourth consecutive Championship triumph and extended their unbeaten run to seven matches, while Birmingham’s woes on the road continued with yet another defeat.
From the opening whistle, it was clear which side had momentum on their side. Watford, riding high after a string of positive results, wasted little time asserting their dominance. In the ninth minute, Giorgi Chakvetadze floated a perfectly weighted pass over the Birmingham defense, and Tom Ince—showing the poise of a seasoned pro—volleyed home from eight yards. The early goal set the tone and sent the home crowd into raptures.
Birmingham City, on the other hand, looked bereft of confidence and cutting edge. Missing their leading scorer Jay Stansfield due to injury, the Blues struggled to carve out meaningful opportunities. Patrick Roberts had a half-chance in the first half, dragging a shot wide after some neat build-up play, but clear sights of goal were few and far between for Chris Davies’ men.
The Hornets continued to press, and Ince nearly doubled his tally when he chipped into the side-netting from a tight angle after another incisive Chakvetadze pass. The pressure eventually told before the interval. Othmane Maamma whipped in a cross from the right, and Ince was on hand to slot home at the second attempt after Birmingham goalkeeper James Beadle had parried his initial effort. It was a clinical finish that left the away end groaning and Watford in firm control at the break.
For Birmingham, the first half was a familiar story. Their away record in the Championship has been nothing short of dismal—eight defeats, two draws, and just two wins from twelve outings this season. The Blues’ fans, who made the trip in hope of a fresh start to 2026, voiced their frustration with chants of “sideways and backwards everywhere we go” as another attack broke down. Manager Chris Davies, serving a touchline ban, could only watch from the press box as his team’s lack of attacking spark became painfully apparent.
Watford, nearly at full strength, were able to flex their depth and quality in midfield and attack. The likes of Imran Louza, Othmane Maamma, and Chakvetadze provided a platform for Ince to thrive. The only change from their previous match saw James Abankwah step in at right-back for the unavailable Jeremy Ngakia, demonstrating the squad’s stability and consistency—a stark contrast to Birmingham’s injury-hit and threadbare lineup.
The second half offered little respite for the visitors. On the hour mark, Watford capitalized on a turnover in midfield. Nestory Irankunda burst forward and slipped the ball to Ince, who rifled home his third goal of the afternoon to complete his first league hat-trick since December 2015. The stadium erupted, and Ince nearly made it four shortly afterward, only to side-foot over from close range after being picked out by Semedo.
“I told the players at the end of the game that I love to work at Christmas. It’s a good moment for the team, having good performances at home and away and getting good results,” Watford manager Javi Gracia told BBC Three Counties Radio. “It’s been amazing for us and helps us to believe in all the things we are going and believe in the power of the squad. We just need to keep going.”
Gracia was quick to emphasize the significance of the clean sheet as well, noting, “It also a good thing to get another clean sheet. It’s important because to get a clean sheet we have had to defend well while creating a lot of chances at the same time.” The defensive solidity was evident, as Birmingham rarely threatened Egil Selvik’s goal, and Watford extended their remarkable record of keeping a clean sheet in each of their last seven home league games against the Blues.
Birmingham’s misfortunes on New Year’s Day continued, extending a remarkable and unwanted record. The club has not won a league game on January 1 since a 1991 victory at Mansfield, the longest ongoing winless streak on this date among all teams in England’s top four divisions. Their defeat at Vicarage Road also marked their seventh consecutive league loss at the venue, each without scoring a single goal.
The frustration for Birmingham was palpable. Boos rang out from the away end at both half-time and full-time, as fans grappled with the reality of a seventh straight match without victory. The Blues now sit 16th in the Championship table, with their hopes of climbing into the playoff picture fading fast. Without key figures like Stansfield and Gray, and with limited options off the bench—Kanya Fujimoto, the Japanese playmaker, again went unused—Chris Davies faces a daunting task to re-energize his squad.
There may be some relief on the horizon for the visitors. The January transfer window has just opened, and Birmingham are expected to bolster their ranks with the signing of Philadelphia Union left-back Kai Wagner. The 28-year-old, named in the MLS Team of the Season after tallying two goals and eleven assists, could provide much-needed quality and dynamism on the flank. Still, it remains to be seen whether one new face will be enough to arrest the club’s alarming slide away from home.
Watford, meanwhile, have climbed to fourth place in the league, their promotion ambitions looking increasingly realistic. With five wins in their last seven matches and a squad brimming with confidence, the Hornets are hitting their stride at a crucial point in the season. The home faithful will be hoping that Ince’s resurgence—this was only his second goal in 15 appearances prior to today—signals a new dimension to their attacking threat.
For now, the mood at Vicarage Road is buoyant. Watford’s blend of attacking flair, defensive discipline, and squad depth has made them a force to be reckoned with in the Championship. As for Birmingham City, the search for answers—and for that elusive away victory—goes on. The Hornets march on, while the Blues are left to lick their wounds and regroup for the battles ahead.
