MATCH THREAD: " WATFORD v CARDIFF CITY " MATCH THREAD

WATFORD v CARDIFF CITY
Saturday 5th December, 3pm
Sky Bet Championship
Vicarage Road 


Match to be played in front of 2,000. Watford supporters, for information on how to watch the match on TV or to stream it - see below

Benkovic's named in match squad



Cardiff City: Smithies; Bacuna, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett; Wilson, Vaulks, Ralls, Ojo; Harris, Moore.

Subs: Phillips, Bamba, Benkovic, Cunningham, Pack, Hoilett, Murphy, Whyte, Glatzel.




What's the team news

CCFC:


Filip Benkovic is expected to be back in contention for the Bluebirds, having missed the midweek clash against Huddersfield Town owing to illness.

The Croatia centre back, who is yet to appear for Cardiff since joining on loan from Leicester City, missed out on the club's friendly match against Newport County on Wednesday but Neil Harris is hopeful he will be well enough for selection for Saturday.

Benkovic's absence in midweek saw the return of Greg Cunningham, who made the bench against the Terriers, so he will also be battling it out for a place on the bench.

Lee Tomlin, Isaac Vassell and Jordi Osei-Tutu are all still the long-term absentees.


WATFORD:


For Watford, they have seen Adam Masina, Tom Cleverley and Will Hughes all back in training this week, but whether or not the weekend's clash will be too soon is as yet unknown.

However Craig Cathcart damaged his hamstring against Nottingham Forest in midweek and is now doubtful to play any part against the Bluebirds.


NEIL HARRIS:

Injury-wise?

We are good. No issues from Tuesday night.




TEAM NEWS:

Neil Harris' Cardiff City have thankfully come through the clash with Huddersfield unscathed, meaning the manager is able to pick the same starting XI as he did for that thumping win over Luton and another great win over Huddersfield



Filip Benkovic missed the Huddersfield game through illness, he is not injured and has not been since he arrived from Leicester.
Should make the bench this Saturday.
Still yet to start after nearly two months since he signed.

Thankfully not injured.



Greg Cunningham, who has worked his way back to full fitness following his hamstring injury earlier in the season will be on the bench

It has been a tough year for the Republic of Ireland international, in terms of injuries, and as such Harris is understandably cautious over starting him yet.

The long-term absentees remain Lee Tomlin, who will be out until February following groin surgery, Jordi Osei-Tutu, whose hamstring issue is still keeping him sidelined, and Isaac Vassell has suffered another setback will be out until at least February as well .

How can I watch this match on TV?

This match is live on Cardiff City TV.

About Watford

Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. They play in the Championship, the second tier of English football. The club recognises its foundation as 1881, aligned with that of its antecedent, Watford Rovers, and was established as Watford Football Club in 1898. After finishing the 1914–15 season as Southern League champions under the management of Harry Kent, Watford joined the Football League in 1920. The club played at several grounds in its early history, before moving to Vicarage Road in 1922.

Graham Taylor's tenure as manager at the club between 1977 and 1987 saw Watford rise from the fourth tier to the first. The team finished second in the First Division in 1982–83, competed in the UEFA Cup in 1983–84, and reached the 1984 FA Cup Final. Watford declined between 1987 and 1997, before Taylor returned as manager, leading the team to successive promotions from the renamed Second Division to the Premier League for one season in 1999–2000. The club played again in the highest tier in 2006–07 under Aidy Boothroyd's management, and then again from 2015 to 2020, reaching the 2019 FA Cup Final, their second FA Cup Final.

Watford have a long-standing rivalry with nearby club Luton Town; the 2020–21 season sees these two rivals meet for the first time since 2006, with Watford winning their first match on 26 September 2020 by a score of 1-0 at Vicarage Road.

Previous Meeting 

Watford beat us 5-1 in the Premier League in February 2019.

Team News - Predicted Line-Ups

Watford: Foster, Ngakia, Kabasele, Cathcart, Femenia, Sarr, Chalobah, Garner, Quina, Gray, Deeney

Cardiff City: Smithies, Bacuna, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett, Vaulks, Ralls, Ojo, Wilson, Harris, Moore

Form - Last Three Games

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Watford
Watford 4-1 Preston North End
Bristol City 0-0 Watford

Cardiff City 3-0 Huddersfield Town
Cardiff City 4-0 Luton Town
Millwall 1-1 Cardiff City

Match Odds

Watford - 19/20
Cardiff City - 3/1
Draw - 12/5

Predictions

Post your predictions below 

Updated:

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TEAM NEWS:

Neil Harris' Cardiff City have thankfully come through the clash with Huddersfield unscathed, meaning the manager is able to pick the same starting XI as he did for that thumping win over Luton and another great win over Huddersfield



Filip Benkovic missed the Huddersfield game through illness, he is not injured and has not been since he arrived from Leicester.
Should make the bench this Saturday.
Still yet to start after nearly two months since he signed.

Thankfully not injured.



Greg Cunningham, who has worked his way back to full fitness following his hamstring injury earlier in the season will be on the bench

It has been a tough year for the Republic of Ireland international, in terms of injuries, and as such Harris is understandably cautious over starting him yet.

The long-term absentees remain Lee Tomlin, who will be out until February following groin surgery, Jordi Osei-Tutu, whose hamstring issue is still keeping him sidelined, and Isaac Vassell has suffered another setback will be out until at least February as well .

I'm going for a City win by 2 clear goals

NEIL HARRIS:


Injury-wise?

We are good. No issues from Tuesday night.

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NEIL HARRIS:

Filip Benkovic, how is he recovering from illness?

Yes, we are hoping he will be back in the training group tomorrow, if so, he can then travel.

Harris

What do you make of Watford?





NEIL HARRIS:

Good players. A team that wasn’t expected to be relegated from the Premier League. They have got a massive squad, an embarrassment of riches, but it’s the Championship.

The amount of teams clustering at the top, middle and bottom. People always question the ability in the Championship but it’s as good as ever.

If you finish above Watford then you are going to finish in the top three, or maybe even top two.

But I worry about getting us right and getting in the best possible condition to stop them and affect the game the other way, being proactive and aggressive.

Harris

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What are the odds?

Watford win: 11/10

Draw: 23/10

Cardiff City win: 13/5

Imo this is a key game, to win this today would be a massive step in the right direction. A draw would be good but a loss would pile the pressure back on.

What's the team news

CCFC:


Filip Benkovic is expected to be back in contention for the Bluebirds, having missed the midweek clash against Huddersfield Town owing to illness.

The Croatia centre back, who is yet to appear for Cardiff since joining on loan from Leicester City, missed out on the club's friendly match against Newport County on Wednesday but Neil Harris is hopeful he will be well enough for selection for Saturday.

Benkovic's absence in midweek saw the return of Greg Cunningham, who made the bench against the Terriers, so he will also be battling it out for a place on the bench.

Lee Tomlin, Isaac Vassell and Jordi Osei-Tutu are all still the long-term absentees.





WATFORD:


For Watford, they have seen Adam Masina, Tom Cleverley and Will Hughes all back in training this week, but whether or not the weekend's clash will be too soon is as yet unknown.

However Craig Cathcart damaged his hamstring against Nottingham Forest in midweek and is now doubtful to play any part against the Bluebirds.

Match facts

Watford have won their last three league matches against Cardiff, most recently during the 2018/19 Premier League season when they did the double over them.


The last Championship meeting between Watford and Cardiff was back in December 2014, with the Hornets winning 4-2 at the Cardiff City Stadium.


Watford have won more home points than any other side in the Championship this season (19 – W6 D1 L0), while they’ve also scored the most home goals in the division (16).


Cardiff City have won back-to-back league games for the first time this season, though they’re winless in their last four on the road (D2 L2).



Kieffer Moore has scored four goals in his last four Championship games, more than he had in his first 11 appearances in the competition for Cardiff (3).

Match to be played in front of 2,000. Watford supporters,

FC Bournemouth - Tier 2, up to 2,000 fans allowed. Forthcoming home fixtures: Huddersfield (12 Dec), Wycombe (15 Dec)
Barnsley - Tier 3
Birmingham City - Tier 3
Blackburn Rovers - Tier 3
Brentford - Tier 2, up to 2,000 fans allowed. Forthcoming home fixtures: Blackburn (5 Dec), Derby (9 Dec)
Bristol City - Tier 3
Cardiff City - spectators are not permitted at any sporting events in Wales
Coventry City - Tier 3
Derby County - Tier 3
Huddersfield Town - Tier 3
Luton Town - Tier 2, up to 2,000 fans allowed. Forthcoming home fixtures: Norwich (2 Dec), Preston (12 Dec)
Middlesbrough - Tier 3
Millwall - Tier 2, up to 2,000 fans allowed. Forthcoming home fixtures: Derby (5 Dec), QPR (8 Dec)
Norwich City - Tier 2, up to 2,000 fans allowed. Forthcoming home fixtures: Sheffield Wednesday (5 Dec), Nottingham Forest (9 Dec)
Nottingham Forest - Tier 3
Preston North End - Tier 3
Queens Park Rangers - Tier 2, up to 2,000 fans allowed. Forthcoming home fixtures: Reading (12 Dec), Stoke (15 Dec)
Reading - Tier 2, up to 2,000 fans allowed. Forthcoming home fixtures: Nottingham Forest (5 Dec), Birmingham (9 Dec), Norwich (16 Dec)
Rotherham United - Tier 3
Sheffield Wednesday - Tier 3
Stoke City - Tier 3
Swansea City - spectators are not permitted at any sporting events in Wales
Watford - Tier 2, up to 2,000 fans allowed. Forthcoming home fixtures: Cardiff (5 Dec), Rotherham (8 Dec), Brentford (15 Dec)
Wycombe Wanderers - Tier 2, up to 2,000 fans allowed. Forthcoming home fixtures: Stoke (2 Dec), Coventry (12 Dec)

Benkovic's named in match squad

Can confirm Filip Benkovic and Greg Cunningham are both at Vicarage Road.

Unchanged line up once again

Filip Benkovic back as sub

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Cardiff City: Smithies; Bacuna, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett; Wilson, Vaulks, Ralls, Ojo; Harris, Moore.

Subs: Phillips, Bamba, Benkovic, Cunningham, Pack, Hoilett, Murphy, Whyte, Glatzel.

Bluebirds

Minute one and Deeney clatters into Nelson and the City man hits the deck. But he is back on his feet soon enough.

Watford fans very quite. Cardiff build down the left but Ralls' low cross hits the first man and is cleared.

Good from Cardiff, who build on the right this time.

The ball is pulled back to Wilson on the edge of the area, but his shot is blocked.

Great work from Harris there, making himself a nuisance up against Kabasele and Cardiff win the throw on halfway.

Ralls bends a right footed effort round the corner of the post from 20-plus yards.

Great play from Watford.

Ngakia slides in Pedro on the edge of the box and the striker flashes his chance across goal. Quick move, that.

Really good from Cardiff on the break.

Harris holds the ball up well and lays off Ralls, who fizzes a lovely ball out to Wilson. The ball finds itself at Vaulks' feet and he sends in a beautiful cross, but Moore heads over the bar!

Tough chance.

end to end

The ball bounces kindly on the volley for Wilson, but he slices his shot miles wide, mete by ironic cheers behind the goal.

Harry Wilson shuts down Sarr's cross and wins the goal kick in doing so.

Lovely ball into the box from Ojo, but Wilson just cannot get on the end of it and Wilmot heads clear.