Watford demolish shaky Stoke to give Slaven Bilic something to build on

Slaven Bilic enjoyed a memorable start to life as Watford boss with a fine 4-0 victory at Stoke.

Bilic, who managed West Ham between 2015 and 2017, became Watford’s ninth manager in three years after Rob Edwards was sacked on Monday following a torrid run of just one win in seven Championship games. Goals from Ismaïla Sarr, Ken Sema, Keinan Davis and Vakoun Bayo secured an impressive win – the club’s biggest victory since hammering Bristol City 6-0 in February 2021.

Bilic will be equally delighted with the fact his side kept their first clean sheet in 11 games and got a first away win since March. It could have been even more convincing had the visitors not struck the post twice in 90 first-half seconds.

Bilic’s opposite number, Alex Neil, has suffered a shaky start since jumping ship from Sunderland to Stoke at the end of August. This mauling means the former Preston manager has won just one of his first five games in charge.

Bilic, who switched Watford’s formation to a new 4-5-1, made four changes for his first game at the helm, while Neil handed Dujon Sterling, a deadline-day loan signing from Chelsea, his first Stoke start.

Hassane Kamara was a real bright spark down the left-hand side for the visitors. The Ivory Coast defender found acres of space to deliver a teasing cross as Sarr, who may have been marginally offside, expertly ran through the heart of the hosts’ defence to glance a header home in the 11th minute.

Slaven Bilic celebrates at full time. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

It was almost a carbon copy 13 minutes later as another pinpoint Kamara cross found Sarr, who this time headed against the post. Within the blink of an eye, Watford rattled the woodwork again as Josef Bursik, the Stoke goalkeeper, tipped Sema’s strike onto his near post. Liam Delap squandered a rare opportunity in the Watford box as he dragged his effort in first-half stoppage time wide of the mark. Neil’s men came out all guns blazing in the second half, but Sema doubled the advantage after 64 minutes to settle things down.

The Hornets took advantage of disarray at the back as Stoke tried to clear, with Sema eventually bundling the ball over the line. Watford eased to victory as Davis and Bayo added the finishing touches. Josh Laurent was caught in possession as the Hornets countered with Davis calmly firing home the third with 12 minutes to go. Bayo, on as a substitute, hit the fourth six minutes later as he easily tapped home his third goal of the season.