Match report and free highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Stoke City and Watford at the bet365 Stadium; goals from Ismaila Sarr, Ken Sema, Keinan Davis and Vakoun Issouf Bayo gave new Watford boss Slaven Bilic an impressive win; Watford rise to seventh; Stoke are 17th
Sunday 2 October 2022 15:17, UK
Watford began life under new head coach Slaven Bilic with an emphatic 4-0 victory at Stoke, a result that sees the Hornets rise to seventh in the Championship table.
Former West Ham manager Bilic became Watford's ninth boss in three years after Rob Edwards was sacked on Monday following a run of just one win in seven league games.
Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Ken Sema, Keinan Davis and Vakoun Issouf Bayo secured Bilic an impressive win at the bet365 Stadium with 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 a first away win since March.
And 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 of the Potters.
Bilic, who switched Watford's formation to a new 4-5-1, made four changes for his first game at the helm, whilst Neil handed Deadline Day Chelsea loan signing Dujon Sterling his first Stoke start.
Hassane Kamara was a real bright spark down the left-hand side for the visitors.
And the Ivory Coast defender found acres of space to deliver a teasing cross as Sarr, who may have marginally been offside, expertly ran through the heart of the hosts' defence to glance a header home in the 12th minute.
It was almost a carbon copy 13 minutes later as another pin-point Kamara cross found Sarr, who this time headed against the post.
And within the blink of an eye Watford rattled the woodwork again as Stoke stopper Josef Bursik 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.
And 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.
Substitute Bayo hit the fourth six minutes later as he easily tapped home his third goal of the season.
Watford head coach Slaven Bilic told Sky Sports: "It's a dream start. A clean sheet and four goals - it was well deserved. The strikers scored goals and that's what you really want. That's what you dream before a game.
"We were really good, especially after it went 2-0. The second goal unleashed the potential, the creativity and the courage of the players.
"It was a very difficult away game against an opponent that is in form. Alex Neil is a very aggressive and direct manager and his side caused us problems in the first half and the start of the second half. But we suffered together and we defended as a team.
"We made some mistakes when Stoke put us under pressure, so we need to improve and build on this. The aim going forward is to play confidently no matter what the score is."
Stoke boss Alex Neil told Sky Sports: "I think the first goal obviously plays a part because when they get their noses in front that allows them to hit us in transition and we then need to force the issue.
"I believe the first goal is offside, but I thought up until the second goal we actually started the second half well. I thought we were on the front foot, we penned them in.
"But we gave the ball away far too many times and when that happens against a team that leaves players up the pitch, you know they're going to be dangerous. Then at 2-0, I think the most disappointing thing for us was what happened beyond that point."
Stoke travel to Burnley in the Championship on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports Football Red Button (kick-off 7.45pm).
Watford host Swansea on the same day as Bilic takes charge of his first game at Vicarage Road. That fixture is also live on Sky Sports Football Red Button (kick-off 7.45pm).
