A season of disappointment and under-achievement at least ended on a winning note as Watford beat Stoke City 2-0 to finish in 11th place in the Championship.

A mediocre contest between two mid-table teams looked like it was drifting towards a goalless conclusion until Imran Louza provided a moment of quality with a fine curling effort to give the hosts the lead midway through the second half.

That was soon followed by a second goal as Keinan Davis saw a right-footed shot deflected home to establish daylight.

The victory at least ensured the curtain came down on the campaign in an atmosphere that did not turn toxic as some recent home games have witnessed. The club took no risks though, with stewards and police with riot helmets conspicuous by their presence for a game that would not normally have been expected to have such high levels of security.

The win does also not even feintly mask the fact that a critically important summer lies ahead for a Hornets side that ultimately finished six points outside the play-offs, with a host of big decisions needing to be made – and got right – if the club are to challenge at the top end of the Championship next season.

Chris Wilder made two changes to the side that was pegged back to a 2-2 draw Sunderland but Ryan Andrews was still the only Academy youngster to be included in the starting XI despite the academic nature of the match.

Wesley Hoedt replaced Hassane Kamara, who was not in the matchday 18, while Ismael Kone came in for Yaser Asprilla following his call up for Colombia for the Under-20 World Cup.

Stoke came into the game without a win in their last six matches and Alex Neil made three changes to the side that was beaten 1-0 at home by QPR last time out.

Matija Sarkic replaced former Hornets keeper Jack Bonham between the posts, while Jordan Thompson and Nick Powell came in for Connor Taylor and Dwight Gayle who both dropped to the bench.

The Hornets reverted to a back three but Daniel Bachmann was forced into his first save of the contest within 22 seconds, pushing over a piledriver from Ben Pearson. The Stoke midfielder tried to repeat the trick when the resultant corner ran to him outside the area, but this time he cleared the target by a distance.

The Potters were all over their hosts in the opening three minutes and Bachmann was forced into another save to repel a snap-shot from Josh Tymon from the left side of the penalty area.

Having been on the back foot, Watford so nearly scored with their first chance in the fifth minute when an Louza pass split the Stoke defence and Ismaila Sarr ran through and tried to slide the ball past Sarkic, but the keeper was able to get just enough of a touch to divert it wide.

Louza created another opening soon after, finding Davis on the left side of the area with the striker initially shaping to shoot with his left foot before checking back onto his right, but Phil Jagielka flung himself in front of the shot to divert it over.

Christian Kabasele, as he had done with the corner from Sarr’s chance, got his head to the resultant set piece, but this time put it narrowly over after heading the first through to Sarkic.

Back came Stoke, this time with Will Smallbone forcing Bachmann into a save after Ryan Porteous had put his side under needless pressure by making a mess of an attempted clearance.

There may have been nothing riding on the game but it was entertaining viewing, Ken Sema the next to fire in a shot that Sarkic could only parry, but Andrews was tackled by Morgan Fox as he tried to get on the end of the rebound.

Bachmann did well in the 18th minute to push away a stinging low drive from Tymon as the positive approach continued from both sides, before a superb angled pass from Andrews almost put Sarr through on goal.

After such a lively opening, it was no surprise the game quietened down for a spell, but only for a few minutes before Watford countered with Louza finding Andrews on the right and his low centre found Sarr who managed to work a shooting opportunity on the right side of the area but his effort was straight at Sarkic.

Watford had looked far from assured defensively from the outset and they were fortunate to escape when Hamza Choudhury gave the ball away to Tyrese Campbell whose delivery found Nick Powell with the freedom of the penalty area, but an offside flag spared his blushes after missing the target.

Another defensive mix-up then ended painfully for Porteous after he was clattered into by Kabasele when both went for the same ball.

Andrews had a shot deflected behind after his initial ball had been held up by Davis, but play soon switched to the other end with Smallbone sliding an effort behind at the far post after Stoke had built down the left.

Smallbone then turned provider as the game ticked into the last minute of normal time at the end of the first half, his cross finding the head of Powell but Bachmnann dropped to his left to save.

However, the Watford keeper had to move more smartly soon after, diving to get his hand to a driven cross from Josh Laurent to prevent Campbell from turning it from close range as the opening period ended goalless despite a total of 19 goal attempts, ten of which had been on target.

Unlike the first half, the start of the second was rather more low key, although Pearson caused referee Lewis Smith to get the yellow card out for the first time on his Championship debut after throwing the ball away.

It was the visitors who were doing the pressing after the break, without creating an opportunity of note, while Watford offered next to nothing going forward in the 20 minutes after the restart.

Wilder made his first changes in the 66th minute, bringing on Henrique Araujo and James Morris for Kone and Kabasele as the Hornets reverted to four at the back.

Those substitutions were made after Campbell had curled a shot high and wide after Pearson had intercepted an infield pass from Andrews and broke forward.

The game was crying out for someone to illuminate it and Louza delivered in the 70th minute.

The Moroccan initially tried to slide Sarr through on goal, but Sarkic got to the ball first. However, Davis kept it alive and laid the ball back to Louza who curled a fine effort in-off the far post to put the Hornets in front.

Having got their noses in front, Watford doubled their lead four minutes later.

A determined Sema won a challenge in midfield and surged forward in the inside left channel before slipping the ball to Davis in space to his right. The striker took on two Stoke defenders before striking an angled right-footed finish that was deflected across and past Sarkic.

Tymon picked up Stoke’s second booking for a foul on Sarr, before Neil made his first change as Lewis Baker replaced Thompson.

The substitute’s first involvement was to head a Smallbone delivery from the right over the target following a corner for the visitors, before Bachmann was forced to back pedal to field an audacious attempt from Powell from 40 yards.

Sarr was afforded a generous ovation which he reciprocated by applauding all sides of Vicarage Road when what is expected to be his final appearance for the club came to an end with five minutes remaining when he was replaced by Adrian Blake. At the same time fellow Academy player Jack Grieves came on for Sema.

Blake started the business end of an attack that saw Davis’ low cross from the left dealt with by Sarkic before Araujo could pounce as the Hornets navigated four minutes of stoppage time to end the campaign with three points.

A reasonable number of fans remained after the final whistle and showed their support with a level of applause that may not have been so generous at other clubs given what has been served up for much of this season.

Watford fans are, in the main, a tolerant bunch but this season has created fractures in the relationship that need repairing.

Watford: Bachmann; Porteous, Kabasele (Morris 66), Hoedt; Andrews, Louza, Choudhury, Kone (Araujo 66), Sema (Grieves 85); Sarr (Blake 85), Davis (Bacuna 90). Subs not used: Hamer, Ngakia.

Stoke City: Sarkic; Sterling, Jagielka, Fox; Smallbone, Pearson, Thompson (Baker 78), Tymon; Powell (Gayle 87), Laurent; Campbell (Taylor 87). Subs not used: Bonham, Macari, Badley-Morgan, Holland-Wilkinson.

Bookings: Pearson for dissent (51); Tymon for a foul on Sarr (76).

Referee: Lewis Smith.