Stoke ended a five-game winless run in the Premier League with victory over Watford to move above the visitors in the table. Defender Ryan Shawcross opened the scoring for the Potters with a smart left-footed half-volley from Charlie Adam's corner seconds before half-time. Peter Crouch prodded in a second after Watford defender Sebastian Prodl bizarrely opted to leave a low Adam cross in the area. Prodl then headed wide at the other end, but that was the closest the Hornets came to scoring. Jonathan Walters could have extended Stoke's lead when he ran clear from a Crouch flick-on, but Heurelho Gomes tipped his right-footed strike wide. It means Watford have now won just once in their past eight league games.
Stoke were without a win since 3 December, having conceded four in defeats at Liverpool and Chelsea over the festive period, but Mark Hughes will be encouraged by a convincing home performance. The Welshman called on the Potters to cut out the "catastrophic errors" that had seen them concede 10 goals in their previous three games, and they looked solid against a Watford side who could only muster two shots on target. Hughes stuck with the 3-4-3 formation used at Stamford Bridge four days earlier, and with forward Marko Arnautovic back in the side after a three-game ban the Potters were a constant threat. The Austria international has created more chances for Stoke this season than any of his team-mates bar Xherdan Shaqiri, and his threat in the attacking third saw him make three key passes and deliver seven crosses against a Hornets side struggling to deal with his unpredictability.
However, it was the precise passing of Adam that led to both of Stoke's goals, the Scottish midfielder twice curling in left-footed deliveries that the visitors failed to defend. Tis not the season to be jolly for Watford. Watford have conceded 14 goals in their last five Premier League away games. Victories over Manchester United, champions Leicester City and Everton helped Watford climb as high as seventh in December, but they have not won since beating the Toffees and have now dropped to 14th. A point at home to struggling Crystal Palace on Boxing Day is all the Hornets have to show from three games in nine days over the festive period, and head coach Walter Mazzarri made the point his side had "50 per cent less time to prepare than Stoke".
Stoke's extra day's rest, coupled with Watford's current injury woes, ensured the home side repeatedly forced the visitors deep into their own half before Mazzarri threw on attackers Odion Ighalo, Jerome Sinclair and youngster Michael Folivi late in the game. Watford have been plagued by injuries in recent weeks, missing up to eight first-teamers, and with midfielders Nordin Amrabat and Adlene Guedioura also off to the Africa Cup of Nations, Mazzarri will surely have to strengthen during the January transfer window if he is to stop his side tumbling down the table.
Man of the match - Charlie Adam
Charlie Adam's two assists equalled his total tally for the previous two Premier League seasons, and proved the difference against Watford. He also made more crosses (10) than any other player. Stoke City manager Mark Hughes: "We have played better and been beaten in recent weeks. We got goals at good times and then saw the game out quite comfortably. We didn't really have to deal with too many moments of anxiety. "It's good to get a clean sheet, because we have shipped some poor goals in recent weeks." On the prospect of Peter Crouch being offered a new contract: "Peter has been playing really well and if you put balls in the right areas you know he is going to get on the end of things. I am sure we will get something done - he is playing as well as he ever has done." Hughes wants new year to be new start for Stoke Watford head coach Walter Mazzarri: "We played well, but two episodes, two mistakes, and they managed to score goals. We could have scored before them and we didn't do it, but we demonstrated we can play against a difficult team like Stoke. "We have to keep going and give everything for the next match. Nothing is going our way, so it is just a period we are not lucky but we need to change this. We have many injuries, so it is not a positive period."
