(N)
Watford
James Tucker
Port Vale FC
John Holden
Youth Cup Round 2
Head To Head Results
| S | M | COMPETITION | HOME | AWAY | WON |  | - |  | - |  | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | Division B | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 0 | - | 0 | - | 1 |
| 1 | 35 | Division B | | 2 | - | 2 | | | 0 | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| 4 | 7 | AP Cup Group (3) | | 0 | - (n) | 1 | | | 1 | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| 5 | 4 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 4 | | | 2 | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| 5 | 21 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 2 | | | 2 | - | 1 | - | 2 |
| 6 | 16 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 2 | - | 1 | - | 3 |
| 6 | 35 | 1st Division | | 3 | - | 0 | | | 3 | - | 1 | - | 3 |
| 7 | 12 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 2 | | | 3 | - | 1 | - | 4 |
| 7 | 30 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 3 | - | 2 | - | 4 |
| 8 | 20 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 2 | | | 3 | - | 3 | - | 4 |
| 8 | 39 | 1st Division | | 3 | - | 1 | | | 4 | - | 3 | - | 4 |
| 10 | 18 | FA Cup Quarterfinals | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 5 | - | 3 | - | 4 |
| 11 | 4 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 5 | - | 3 | - | 5 |
| 11 | 18 | FA Cup Quarterfinals | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 5 | - | 4 | - | 5 |
| 11 | 21 | 2nd Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 5 | - | 5 | - | 5 |
| 11 | 22 | FA Cup Quarterfinals Replay | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 6 | - | 5 | - | 5 |
| 14 | 1 | FA Cup Round 1 | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 6 | - | 6 | - | 5 |
| 14 | 6 | FA Cup Round 1 Replay | | 2④ | - | 2③ | | /
| 6 | - | 7 | - | 5 |
| 14 | 16 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 7 | - | 7 | - | 5 |
| 14 | 35 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 8 | - | 7 | - | 5 |
| 15 | 12 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 9 | - | 7 | - | 5 |
| 15 | 30 | 2nd Division | | 6 | - | 0 | | | 9 | - | 7 | - | 6 |
| 16 | 3 | AP Cup Group (2) | | 0 | - (n) | 1 | | | 9 | - | 7 | - | 7 |
| 16 | 12 | 3rd Division | | 3 | - | 3 | | | 9 | - | 8 | - | 7 |
| 16 | 30 | 3rd Division | | 6 | - | 0 | | | 9 | - | 8 | - | 8 |
| 17 | 1 | FA Cup Round 1 | | 4 | - | 0 | | | 9 | - | 8 | - | 9 |
| 17 | 3 | AP Cup Group (2) | | 1 | - (n) | 0 | | | 9 | - | 8 | - | 10 |
| 18 | 8 | 3rd Division | | 3 | - | 0 | | | 10 | - | 8 | - | 10 |
| 18 | 26 | 3rd Division | | 1 | - | 3 | | | 11 | - | 8 | - | 10 |
| 19 | 9 | 3rd Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 11 | - | 9 | - | 10 |
| 19 | 29 | 3rd Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 11 | - | 9 | - | 11 |
| 20 | 4 | 3rd Division | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 11 | - | 9 | - | 12 |
| 20 | 21 | 3rd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 12 | - | 9 | - | 12 |
| 21 | 4 | 3rd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 12 | - | 9 | - | 13 |
| 21 | 21 | 3rd Division | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 13 | - | 9 | - | 13 |
| 21 | 32 | FA SHIELD SEMIFINALS | | 0④ | - | 0② | | /
| 13 | - | 10 | - | 13 |
| 22 | 3 | AP Cup Group (2) | | 2 | - (n) | 3 | | | 14 | - | 10 | - | 13 |
| 23 | 13 | 3rd Division | | 3 | - | 0 | | | 15 | - | 10 | - | 13 |
| 23 | 34 | 3rd Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 16 | - | 10 | - | 13 |
| 24 | 1 | FA Cup Round 1 | | 0 | - | 3 | | | 17 | - | 10 | - | 13 |
| 26 | 9 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 3 | | | 18 | - | 10 | - | 13 |
| 26 | 19 | AP Cup Quarterfinals | | 3 | - | 2 | | | 18 | - | 10 | - | 14 |
| 26 | 29 | 1st Division | | 4 | - | 0 | | | 19 | - | 10 | - | 14 |
| 27 | 16 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 19 | - | 11 | - | 14 |
| 27 | 35 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 19 | - | 11 | - | 15 |
| 29 | 17 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 20 | - | 11 | - | 15 |
| 29 | 38 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 20 | - | 12 | - | 15 |
| 30 | 9 | 2nd Division | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 20 | - | 12 | - | 16 |
| 30 | 23 | FA Shield Quarterfinals | | 1⑥ | - | 1⑦ | | /
| 20 | - | 13 | - | 16 |
| 30 | 27 | AP CUP SEMIFINALS | | 1 | - | 2 | | | 21 | - | 13 | - | 16 |
| 30 | 29 | 2nd Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 21 | - | 14 | - | 16 |
| 31 | 15 | AP Cup Round 2 | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 22 | - | 14 | - | 16 |
| 32 | 5 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 22 | - | 14 | - | 17 |
| 32 | 25 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 22 | - | 15 | - | 17 |
| 33 | 16 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 23 | - | 15 | - | 17 |
| 33 | 35 | 1st Division | | 4 | - | 0 | | | 24 | - | 15 | - | 17 |
| 37 | 10 | FA Cup Round 2 | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 24 | - | 16 | - | 17 |
| 37 | 14 | FA Cup Round 2 Replay | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 24 | - | 16 | - | 18 |
| 38 | 19 | AP Cup Quarterfinals | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 25 | - | 16 | - | 18 |
| 39 | 1 | FA Cup Round 1 | | 4 | - | 3 | | | 26 | - | 16 | - | 18 |
| 40 | 12 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 26 | - | 17 | - | 18 |
| 40 | 30 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 26 | - | 18 | - | 18 |
| 40 | 36 | AP CUP FINAL | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 26 | - | 18 | - | 19 |
| 41 | 3 | AP Cup Group (2) | | 3 | - (n) | 3 | | | 26 | - | 19 | - | 19 |
| 41 | 4 | 2nd Division | | 2 | - | 7 | | | 27 | - | 19 | - | 19 |
| 41 | 21 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 27 | - | 20 | - | 19 |
| 42 | 1 | FA Cup Round 1 | | 8 | - | 0 | | | 28 | - | 20 | - | 19 |
| 43 | 9 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 28 | - | 20 | - | 20 |
| 43 | 27 | AP CUP SEMIFINALS | | 1 | - | 2 | | | 28 | - | 20 | - | 21 |
| 43 | 29 | 2nd Division | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 29 | - | 20 | - | 21 |
| 44 | 5 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 29 | - | 20 | - | 22 |
| 44 | 25 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 2 | | | 29 | - | 20 | - | 23 |
| 44 | 28 | Youth Cup Round 2 | | 0 | - (n) | 0③ | | /
| 29 | - | 21 | - | 23 |
| 45 | 12 | 1st Division | | 4 | - | 2 | | | 30 | - | 21 | - | 23 |
| 45 | 30 | 1st Division | | 5 | - | 2 | | | 30 | - | 21 | - | 24 |
| 46 | 16 | 2nd Division | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 30 | - | 21 | - | 25 |
| 46 | 32 | FA SHIELD SEMIFINALS | | 3② | - | 3③ | | /
| 30 | - | 22 | - | 25 |
| 46 | 35 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 31 | - | 22 | - | 25 |
| 47 | 13 | 3rd Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 31 | - | 22 | - | 26 |
| 47 | 29 | 3rd Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 31 | - | 23 | - | 26 |
| 48 | 17 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 31 | - | 24 | - | 26 |
| 48 | 38 | 2nd Division | | 4 | - | 1 | | | 31 | - | 24 | - | 27 |
| 49 | 16 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 31 | - | 24 | - | 28 |
| 49 | 39 | 1st Division | | 5 | - | 1 | | | 31 | - | 24 | - | 29 |
| 50 | 1 | FA Cup Round 1 | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 32 | - | 24 | - | 29 |
| 50 | 8 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 32 | - | 24 | - | 30 |
| 50 | 24 | Youth Cup Round 1 | | 2 | - (n) | 0 | | | 32 | - | 24 | - | 31 |
| 50 | 35 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 32 | - | 25 | - | 31 |
| 52 | 3 | AP Cup Group (2) | | 1 | - (n) | 1 | | | 32 | - | 26 | - | 31 |
| 52 | 28 | Youth Cup Round 2 | | 0⑤ | - (n) | 0④ | | /
| 32 | - | 27 | - | 31 |
| S | M | COMPETITION | HOME | AWAY | WON | | - | | - | | |||
Olmec Head Preview
Youth Cup• Watford has 2 Youth Cup Trophies.
• The previous Youth Cup Final appearances by Watford include:
• a season 1 win over Tranmere Rovers 3-3 (PK Shootout: 4-2).
• a season 21 loss to Preston North End FC 3-2.
• a season 42 loss to Tranmere Rovers 0-0 (PK Shootout: 7-6).
• a season 45 win over Preston North End FC 2-0.
• a season 49 loss to Southend United 2-1.
• Watford exited the Youth Cup in the 2nd Round last season when they lost to Bristol City FC 1-0.
• Port Vale FC has 3 Youth Cup Trophies.
• The previous Youth Cup Final appearances by Port Vale FC include:
• a season 5 win over Lincoln City FC 1-1 (PK Shootout: 4-3).
• a season 8 win over Tranmere Rovers 4-2.
• a season 15 loss to Queens Park Rangers 6-3.
• a season 23 win over Queens Park Rangers 0-0 (PK Shootout: 4-3).
• Port Vale FC crashed out of the Youth Cup last season in a 4-3 loss to Lincoln City FC in the 1st Round.
Watford
• Watford are free of injuries entering today's match.
Port Vale FC
• Ayrton Chamot (APP/8 Fw) is questionable (head injury) but may return today.
Head To Head Meetings
• Watford and Port Vale FC have met 89 times with 2 of those occurring in the Youth Cup.
• Watford have won 32, lost 31 and drawn 26 of 89 matches against Port Vale FC.
• Watford has a 4 game winless streak against the Valiants.
MATCHUP
PUNDIT CORNER
| Watford | Position | Port Vale FC |
| 6 | Goalkeeper | ✓ 17 |
| 4 | Sweeper | ✓ 7 |
| 31 ✓ | Defenders | 16 |
| 32 ✓ | Midfielders | 16 |
| 38 ✓ | Forwards | 32 |
| 30 ✓ | Est. Attacks | 1 |
🅾 PREDICTION: WAT 2 – 0 PV (WAT to win)
🏦 Neutral venue
⚔️ KEY BATTLE: The forward vs defence battle is decisive — Watford's attack (FW:38) overwhelms Port Vale FC's defence (DF:16), giving Watford a commanding edge in the most critical area.
⭐ ONES TO WATCH: Djonno De boer (FW, TL:18) — WAT | Dylan De boer (GK, TL:17) — PV
🎯 VERDICT: Watford should win this Youth Cup tie convincingly. Their attacking total of 38 against Port Vale's defensive total of just 16 creates an enormous mismatch, and an estimated 30 attacks to 1 underlines just how one-sided this contest looks on paper. Djonno De Boer leads the line with a team-high rating of 18 and is the standout player most likely to punish Port Vale's vulnerable backline repeatedly.
RAY'S TAKE
WAT 2 - 0 PV
Watford's forward line looks a different class in this youth tie — Port Vale's lads at the back are going to be chasing shadows all night. One attack against thirty? That's not a match, that's a training exercise. Port Vale's keeper Dylan De Boer will earn himself a reputation today, just not the kind he wants.
MARCUS'S TAKE
WAT 2 - 0 PV
Watford's forward line is simply a different class in this one — Port Vale's defensive structure looks threadbare, and that gulf will be exposed repeatedly on a neutral pitch. The midfield contest won't last long before Watford take control and start dictating tempo. Port Vale's single estimated attack tells you everything about how this evening is likely to unfold for them.
