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Edited by Steve Marshall We used AI to assist with reporting on this page. In this instance, AI helped to summarise BBC radio journalists' commentary of this match. All posts were checked by a journalist before publishing. Preston 1-1 Watford Derek Payne Former Watford midfielder on BBC Three Counties Radio Superb from Maamma, but Imran Louza deserves a lot of credit. Dropped deeper in this half, got himself on the ball, little one-two with Kjerrumgaard and then straight to Maamma, and Maamma is very positive, drives into the box, drops the shoulder and it's a beautiful finish because he curls it right into the corner. Othmane Maama (55 mins) Othmane Maamma levels the match for Watford with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. The goal came after being set up by Imrân Louza during a fast break. Preston 1-0 Watford The second half has begun at Deepdale with Preston North End leading Watford 1-0. Watford makes a substitution as Kwadwo Baah replaces Giorgi Chakvetadze. HT: Preston 1-0 Watford Derek Payne Former Watford midfielder on BBC Three Counties Radio It'd be interesting to see if Ed Still can instil into his players that energy, that urgency, because I'm not seeing enough of that. And we could stay, 'oh, it's like confidence. It's this, that', but it's got to be more. How can I put this in a nice way? More aggression and more will to win, for me. They usually say new manager bounce. I haven't seen enough of that in the first half. HT: Preston 1-0 Watford Alan Kelly Former Preston keeper on BBC Radio Lancashire A dominant half from Preston North End from start to finish. Really enjoyed the play, the fact that they were connected as a team, from the goalkeeper, defence, midfield through to attack. Dobbin got a great goal, assisted by Whiteman and everything's positive here. That's how they should come out the second half. Preston 1-0 Watford The first half ends with Preston leading 1-0 against Watford. Lewis Dobbin's goal separates the teams in what has been a competitive, physical encounter. Watford's defence held firm against late pressure, but Ed Still will need to work out a strategy to overcome Preston's assertive play in the second half. Preston 1-0 Watford Lewis Dobbin's volley towards the far post just went wide, but he was flagged offside. Preston remain in the lead, ending the half as the more assertive side. Preston 1-0 Watford Preston North End continue their dominant performance as they earn another corner. This marks their eighth corner of the match, demonstrating their consistent pressure on Watford's defence. Preston are ending the half as the stronger team, pressing hard and winning individual duels. Watford are struggling to cope with their physical play. Preston 1-0 Watford Imran Louza's ambitious long-range shot is comfortably saved by David Cornell, maintaining Preston's lead as they approach half-time. Louza showed intent, dropping deeper to gain more control in the midfield. Preston 1-0 Watford Preston's neat play leads to another corner, with Alfie Divine, Lewis Dobbin, and Daniel Jebbison displaying their excellent coordination and causing Watford's defence to hesitate. Preston 1-0 Watford Luca Kjerrumgaard's header is well-directed towards goal from a corner, but Preston's keeper David Cornell makes a crucial save to maintain their lead. Preston 1-0 Watford Lewis Dobbin makes a darting run towards the penalty area, but is thwarted by a crucial block that leads to a corner for Preston. A display of persistence from Dobbin looking to challenge Watford's defence again. Preston 1-0 Watford Geoff Doyle Commentator on BBC Three Counties Radio It looked a bit too easy that Preston took the throw-in, Louza didn't track his man, the cross came in and Dobbin was there just to stick a foot out and into the far corner it goes, and Preston have taken the lead against Ed Still's Watford. Preston 1-0 Watford Alan Kelly Former Preston keeper on BBC Radio Lancashire It was a great goal. It was about getting control of the ball, being able to find the right pass at the right time. Whiteman did it there. Beautiful little instep into the box low, Dobbin came up, met it, 1-0. Preston 1-0 Watford Lewis Dobbin's goal showcases Preston North End's strategic execution and fluidity. The team demonstrated control and precision with Whiteman providing a perfect low cross, which Dobbin converted with ease, steering it into the corner. This collective play and the injection of pace at the crucial moment allowed North End to break through Watford's defence, demonstrating their effective connectivity. Lewis Dobbin (19) Lewis Dobbin breaks the deadlock for Preston North End with a well-placed right-footed shot from the centre of the box, steering it into the bottom right corner. The goal was beautifully assisted by Benjamin Whiteman, who provided a precise low cross. Preston 0-0 Watford James Abankwah finds a little pocket of space and lures the defender, forcing Andrija Vukcevic to block and concede a corner for Watford. Preston 0-0 Watford As the game pauses for a goal-kick to Watford, Preston North End fans rise to remember the legendary Tom Finney, 12 years since his passing. The stadium echoes with 'Viva Tom Finney' as they celebrate his life and contribution. Preston 0-0 Watford Preston North End are applying pressure, forcing James Abankwah to concede another corner. Their intensity is causing some issues for Watford in defence. Preston 0-0 Watford Preston have earned an early corner against Watford as Saba Goglichidze concedes. Alfie Devine’s attempt, assisted by Daniel Jebbison, was blocked on the left side of the box. Milutin Osmajic celebrates his equaliser against Watford Second-half substitute Milutin Osmajic rescued a draw for Preston to deny Ed Still victory in his first game as Watford's new head coach. Watford scored twice in two second-half minutes through Othmane Maamma and an Odeluga Offiah own goal to turn the game on its head after Preston's Lewis Dobbin had opened the scoring. Osmajic had only been on the pitch for seven minutes when he combined with debutant and fellow substitute Callum Lang to level for Preston who lost a little ground in the play-off places. Still will be disappointed not to take all three points in his first match after Formose Mendy's 20-yard shot hit the base of a post late on as the Hornets' winless run stretched to eight games. Osmajic bagged his sixth goal in his first game back after his three-match ban for headbutting Hull's John Lundstram last month. In all, the Montenegro striker has been banned for 20 games under boss Paul Heckingbottom, but he underlined his value to Preston with his 70th-minute equaliser. Ed Still takes charge of his first EFL game at Preston Preston wanted a win to climb into the play-off places and instead remain seventh with just one win in their last six matches. Watford remain 12th – three points outside the top six – and Still can take heart from his side's point at Deepdale. Preston took advantage of some slack defending to open the scoring on 19 minutes when Imran Louza failed to track back and Benjamin Whiteman fired in a low cross for Dobbin to sidefoot home his eighth goal of the season at the far post. The Hornets levelled on 55 minutes out of nowhere when Louza broke and fed Maamma, who cut inside and curled the ball into the far corner. And two minutes later, they went ahead when Nampalys Mendy found Kwadwo Baah and his cross for Luca Kjerrumgaard went in off the unfortunate Offiah. Heckingbottom made changes and two of his substitutes combined to haul them level on 70 minutes when Lang, signed for a club record fee from Portsmouth, played a fantastic ball into Osmajic, who buried his shot in the bottom left-hand corner. Watford were denied a winner when Formose Mendy's left-foot volley came off the inside of the post. Watford head coach Ed Still told BBC Radio Three Counties: "The first half wasn't so bad, it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great. It's a shame that we did have that one moment where we switched off. Apart from that, they [Preston] didn't have much. "We conceded a goal from a throw-in where we're not quite sharp enough in the box and the second goal, there is a transition where we had an overload on the midline and we can manage that better as well. "I really hope the team has felt and taken a lot of confidence from the second half, the speed and tempo that we put in the game. We put them under a lot of pressure and created enough chances to win. "In the end, it's a good point, but I'm disappointed for the dressing room that they didn't get more. " This video can not be played Still: 'I'm disappointed we didn't get more' After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 14th February 2026 at 17: 00 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Paul Heckingbottom Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Manager: Edward Still Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Paul Heckingbottom Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Manager: Edward Still Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Preston have won two of their last three league games against Watford (D1), as many as they had in their previous 13. They won this exact fixture 3-0 last season. Having won just one of their first 17 away league games against Preston (D6 L10), Watford have now won two of their last four visits to Deepdale (D1 L1). Preston have won just two of their last eight home league games (D3 L3), though they did beat Portsmouth 1-0 last time out. Watford are winless in their last six league games (D3 L3), failing to score in their last three. They last went four without a goal in February 2022 in the Premier League, while they last did so in the second tier in December 1992. Though he’s registered a goal or assist in one of his last 14 league appearances, Imrân Louza leads all Watford players for goal involvements (12 – 6 goals, 6 assists), chances created (55) and total shots (59) in the Championship this season. Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.