Birmingham City 2-1 Watford: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Birmingham City 2-1 Watford in the Championship on Monday, 01 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Birmingham City beat Watford 2-1 in a lively Championship clash at St Andrew’s. The hosts took control in the first half, with Seung-ho Paik firing them ahead on 31 minutes after some neat build-up play. Demarai Gray then doubled the lead just before the break on 43 minutes, assisted by Jay Stansfield, capping off a strong spell for Birmingham who came into this on the back of a solid run including a 4-1 win over Norwich and a draw at West Brom.

Watford fought back in the second half, pulling one back through Othmane Maamma on 61 minutes with an assist from Marc Bola, making it a tense finish. Despite the Hornets’ push, Birmingham held firm through some late yellow cards and substitutions, securing the three points. This result extends Birmingham’s good recent form with three wins in their last five, while Watford’s away loss follows a mixed bag of draws and a win at Derby.

The game was evenly matched on the ball, with Birmingham holding 49% possession to Watford’s 51%, showing neither side truly dominated play. Corners were level at six each, but Watford edged it in successful dribbles with 50 compared to Birmingham’s 36, suggesting they were more effective at beating defenders on the counter. Both teams picked up assists with one apiece, while penalties and injury-time goals weren’t a factor here.

Discipline saw Birmingham collect three yellow cards against Watford’s two, with no reds on either side adding to the drama. Substitutions played a role too, as Birmingham used three to freshen things up – like Keshi Anderson replacing Demarai Gray at 69 minutes, and a double switch at 73 with Alfons Sampsted on for Bright Osayi-Samuel and Lyndon Dykes for Marvin Ducksch. Watford made four changes, including a triple around the hour mark with Giorgi Chakvetadze for Tom Ince at 59, then Edo Kayembe for Hector Kyprianou and Vivaldo Semedo for Luca Kjerrumgaard at 60, before Moussa Sissoko replaced Othmane Maamma at 85.

Birmingham struck first on 31 minutes when Seung-ho Paik found the net to break the deadlock, setting the tone for their first-half dominance. Demarai Gray added a second on 43 minutes, thanks to an assist from Jay Stansfield, which gave the hosts a comfortable lead going into the break. Watford responded after the hour, with Othmane Maamma scoring on 61 minutes assisted by Marc Bola, pulling them back into the contest and ramping up the pressure.

Yellow cards added to the intensity, like Tommy Doyle’s booking for Birmingham at 24 minutes and Hector Kyprianou’s for Watford at 20. Substitutions shifted momentum too – Watford’s triple change around 60 minutes led straight to their goal, while Birmingham’s late switches, including Marc Leonard for Jay Stansfield and Lewis Koumas for Patrick Roberts at 90+2, helped them see out the win amid further cautions for Stansfield at 78 and Patrick Roberts at 80.

Birmingham City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, allowing them to balance solid defending with quick attacks through the middle. Seung-ho Paik anchored the midfield effectively, while Demarai Gray shone on the wing before being replaced by Keshi Anderson at 69 minutes. Jay Stansfield’s assist for Gray’s goal highlighted a strong partnership up front, with later changes like Alfons Sampsted for Bright Osayi-Samuel and Lyndon Dykes for Marvin Ducksch at 73 adding fresh legs.

Watford set up in a 4-4-2 formation, focusing on width and direct play to create chances. Othmane Maamma was key in attack, scoring their goal before Moussa Sissoko replaced him at 85 minutes. Marc Bola’s assist showed good link-up on the left, while substitutions like Giorgi Chakvetadze for Tom Ince at 59, Edo Kayembe for Hector Kyprianou at 60, and Vivaldo Semedo for Luca Kjerrumgaard at 60 brought energy to their push.

Coral’s Man of the Match goes to Othmane Maamma for his standout performance, even in defeat. He grabbed Watford’s only goal to keep them in the game, though without any assists, big chances created, or key passes in the stats. His efforts highlighted his threat up front before being subbed off late on.

Recent Championship matches:

• Win: 2-1 vs Watford (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs West Bromwich Albion (A)
• Win: 4-1 vs Norwich City (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Middlesbrough (A)
• Win: 4-0 vs Millwall (H)

Recent Championship matches:

• Loss: 1-2 vs Birmingham City (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Preston North End (H)
• Win: 3-2 vs Derby County (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Bristol City (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Ipswich Town (A)

Birmingham City have just edged out Watford with a 2-1 home win, boosting their push up the table where they sit seventh on 28 points. Their recent form has been strong with three wins and a draw in the last five, setting them up nicely for a shot at the play-offs. Next up, they face Southampton on 2025-12-06 at 15:00, with the Saints currently 14th on 24 points, so a victory could help Birmingham pull further clear in the race for the top six.

Watford have just fallen to a 2-1 defeat away at Birmingham City, leaving them mid-table in 15th on 24 points. Their form has been patchy with a loss following three draws and a win in recent games, so they’ll be keen to bounce back and climb away from any relegation worries. They host Norwich City next on 2025-12-06 at 12:30, with the Canaries down in 23rd on 13 points, offering a good chance for Watford to grab three points and steady the ship.

Coral brings you the most exciting betting promotions and the latest betting offers to enhance your experience.

For the best Championship outright predictions, explore our Outright Betting guide.

Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.