Stoke City left Vicarage Road with all three points on Sunday, winning 2-1 against Watford in a result that goalkeeper Asmir Begović described as part of a "fantastic" ten-point haul for the club.

A result that underlines Stoke's momentum

It was far from straightforward for Stoke, who had to withstand Watford pressure and ultimately shade a contest that the hosts will feel they had enough to claim something from. But clinical finishing and a resilient defensive showing in the closing stages settled the outcome in the visitors' favour.

The victory continues a run that has seen Stoke accumulate ten points from their recent Championship fixtures, a sequence that has shifted the mood considerably at the club after a sluggish start to the campaign. For Begović, who spoke to BBC Radio Stoke after the final whistle, the scale of that return was worthy of recognition.

"That ten-point return is fantastic," the goalkeeper said. "We've worked hard for this and I think the performances have merited the results we've been getting."

What changed the game

Stoke's ability to punish Watford on the counter proved decisive. Having absorbed an early spell of home pressure, the visitors struck with precision rather than volume, converting the chances that fell to them while limiting Watford to a single goal in reply.

The win at Vicarage Road is particularly significant given that Watford had shown genuine form at home earlier in the season. The Hornets had beaten Preston at the same ground in recent weeks, and manager Heckingbottom had warned ahead of this fixture that they would pose a serious threat. Stoke silenced that threat by keeping their defensive shape compact and transitioning quickly whenever possession was won.

Watford, now enduring a difficult run, will be concerned by the manner of the defeat. Their attacking play created openings but lacked the cutting edge needed to punish a Stoke side that defended with confidence and organisation.

Stoke's ten-point run in context

The numbers tell a clear story. Ten points from their recent run places Stoke among the division's form sides heading into mid-September. Head coach Mark Robins had challenged his squad publicly to build on the platform the club had constructed, and the squad has responded with back-to-back away performances of substance.

Young midfielder Devenny, who has caught the eye since joining the club, again contributed to a Stoke attack that has steadily looked more assured with each passing fixture. The blend of experience that Begović provides at the back and the energy Stoke carry going forward has started to look like a genuine Championship proposition rather than a work in progress.

The result moves Stoke further up the second-tier table and puts pressure on the clubs immediately above them. For Watford, the challenge now is to arrest a slide that manager Heckingbottom will need to address quickly if the Hornets are to keep themselves within touching distance of the promotion places.

What comes next

Both sides return to action next midweek. Stoke will look to carry their momentum into a home fixture, while Watford must regroup swiftly. On the basis of Sunday's display, Stoke's confidence is genuine rather than fragile, and Begović's characterisation of the ten-point run as fantastic looks difficult to argue with.

Frequently asked

What was the score in the Watford vs Stoke City Championship match?
Stoke City won 2-1 away at Watford in their Championship fixture on 13 September 2026.
How many points have Stoke City taken recently in the Championship?
Stoke City have accumulated ten points from their recent run of Championship fixtures, a return goalkeeper Asmir Begović described as fantastic.
How are Watford performing in the Championship this season?
Watford have been struggling for form, with the 2-1 home defeat to Stoke City extending a difficult run of results in the Championship.