Watford 2-0 Stoke City: Imran Louza and Keinan Davis ease Hornets to victory over Potters

A moment of quality from Imran Louza put Watford in front against Stoke

A quickfire second-half double from Imran Louza and Keinan Davis saw Watford earn a final day win over Stoke.

The Hornets went in front with 20 minutes to go through Louza's quality curled finish after Potters goalkeeper Matija Sarkic had denied Ismaila Sarr.

Ken Sema was the architect of the second, with his run and pass finding Davis whose deflected shot spun out of Sarkic's reach.

Stoke threatened through Ben Pearson and Will Smallbone in the first half but faded in the second as Chris Wilder's side cruised to victory.

Watford end what has been a disappointing season for both sides the happier, but would have hoped for better than a 11th-placed finish.

Alex Neil's Stoke finish in 16th after a poor end to the season which saw them go the final seven games without victory.

Both goalkeepers were given a workout in a lively opening 20 minutes with Watford's Daniel Bachmann turning Pearson's shot over the bar before saving from Smallbone.

At the other end, Sarkic was forced into a good save to deny Sarr who latched on to Louza's defence-splitting pass, before pushing Sema's long-range shot away from danger.

Sarr saw another shot saved as the game approached the half hour mark and Smallbone fired wide at the back post after being picked out by Nick Powell as the first half ended goalless.

There were few openings in the second half until Watford eventually made the breakthrough on 70 minutes with Louza's precise finish beating Sarkic after the goalkeeper had denied Sarr.

Davis doubled their lead four minutes later when Sema made a storming run upfield and passed to the striker whose shot from inside the penalty area took a deflection and looped past Sarkic.