Report and free match highlights from Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship clash between Watford and Stoke City at Vicarage Road | Edo Kayembe scores twice as the Hornets comfortably win their first home game of the season.

Watford continued their successful start to the season with a convincing 3-0 home win against Stoke.

Both sides were able to celebrate victories on the first matchday of the Sky Bet Championship as well as successes in the Carabao Cup against lower-class opponents during the week.

But two goals from Edo Kayembe and Ryan Andrews within two minutes early in the second half gave Tom Cleverley’s hosts a comfortable win, with Kayembe later scoring another.

The first chance belonged to the visitors when Million Manhoef found space on the right side of the box, but the Dutchman’s shot was saved by Daniel Bachmann, a former Stoke goalkeeper.

Watford responded with a shot from Andrews that rebounded off the near post, but Stoke were behind again in the 20th minute when Emre Tezgel shot across the goal and narrowly missed.

The Hornets hit the woodwork again after Potters goalkeeper Viktor Johansson parried a shot from Jeremy Ngakia.

James Morris tried his luck from distance with a lob over the retreating Johansson, which rebounded off the crossbar.

Moussa Sissoko, who returned to Watford after two seasons in France, then tested Johansson with an effort from outside the box, but that was about it as far as first-half entertainment went.

Watford made one change for the second half, replacing Ngakia with Yasser Larouci, the former Liverpool defender on loan from Troyes.

And it paid off immediately, as Stoke sluggishly gave Andrews another chance to shoot in the 47th minute. Johansson could only parry his low shot into the air and Kayembe was there in a flash and put the ball in the net.

The Potters ignored the warning and conceded another goal two minutes later, again on the rebound when Larouchi’s effort was half blocked, allowing Andrews to shoot past Johansson.

Watford were ahead: Mattie Pollock attempted an overhead kick in search of a third goal, Kayembe missed one chance and Johansson deflected another onto the bar.

Stoke manager Steven Schumacher made three substitutions just after the 60th minute, one of which brought on Andrew Moran on loan from Brighton, but Watford had another good chance when Eric Bocat cleared Vakoun Bayo’s header off the line with Johansson beaten.

This respite did not last long, however, as Kayembe, who was fed by Giorgi Chakvetadze, broke through in the 73rd minute and beat Johansson with a rising shot that conveniently bounced off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.

Stoke were denied a final consolation goal when substitute Lewis Koumas broke through, but his shot was blocked by Bachmann’s outstretched leg.

The managers

Watford’s Tom Cleverley:

“We didn’t get the ideal results at the start of the season, but I’m glad the guys still believed in the process, in all the principles we’re trying to convey.”

“That belief has been rewarded in the last week or so.

“That’s three wins from three games and now it’s time to rest, recover and really double up on the standards because that’s what separates winning teams from just good teams.

“We’re not in a celebratory mood right now, but we do feel a sense of reward.”

Steven Schumacher from Stoke:

“Of course I’m disappointed with the outcome of the game. We played really well in the first half. I thought we were strong and solid and dangerous on the counterattack.

“I told the boys at half-time that my only concern about the performance was that we were not in the lead.

“The two goals after the break – out of nowhere, really – changed the result. Two goals in quick succession are not easy to reverse.”

“The second half slipped away from us and in the end the result was no longer contestable.

“We know that we will concede goals at times, especially away from home, and when that happens it is time to regroup and get through a difficult period.

“We didn’t manage that but we’re not panicking about it. That’s an essential part of football. We have to make sure we’re better in those situations when we can.”