MATCH FACTS: WATFORD VS CARDIFF
Club News
28th November
Watford vs Cardiff City
Venue: Vicarage Road
Date: Saturday 29th November 2014, 3.00pm KO
LISTEN LIVE ON CARDIFF CITY PLAYER
Cardiff City travel to Watford on Saturday afternoon with a first away league victory of the campaign firmly in their sights. The Hornets have started strongly this season, but are currently winless in three games.
Tickets for this match are still available. The Ticket Office will remain open till 11am at CCS but away tickets will not be sold at Vicarage Road.
MATCH FACTS
- Slaviša Jokanović is Watford's fourth manager this season, after Beppe Sannino, Óscar García and Billy McKinlay
- Matěj Vydra is currently top scorer for the Hornets with seven goals
- Peter Whittingham's penalty against Reading was his fifth goal of the campaign
- City's last win at Vicarage Road was a 4-0 comprehensive victory back in October 2009
- Three points currently separate the two teams going into Saturday's match
KEY OPPOSITION PLAYER: Troy Deeney
Former Walsall strike Deeney has proven himself as one of the Championship's most lethal forwards in the past two seasons. He netted an impressive 19 goals for the Hornets in 2012/13 before bettering it in the subsequent season with 24 goals from 44 appearances. Famed for his last minute winning goal as Watford turned an opposing penalty kick into a play-off semi final winner, Deeney has scored three times this current campaign and will be looking to hit his previous totals by seasons end with loan star Matej Vydra also available to call upon when goals are required.
ONE TO WATCH: Ikechi Anya
Undoubtedly the highlight of Anya's season so far was his equalising goal for the Scottish National Team as they fought World Champions Germany. While the Germans eventually came out on top in a tight match, the impressive Anya made a lasting impression on the watching crowd. Anya could be considered a journeyman despite being just 26-years-old with spells in England for Wycombe Wanderers and Northampton Town as well as Spanish sides Granada, Cadiz, Celta and a number of other sides. He seems to have settled at Vicarage Road though, with a regular spot in the starting eleven.
RECENT FORM (ALL COMPETITIONS)
Cardiff City: WLWLDW
Last time out: Cardiff City 2-1 Reading - Friday 21st November 2014, Sky Bet Championship
Cardiff City recorded a fifth-successive home victory under the Friday night lights as they saw off the visiting Reading 2-1. The Bluebirds broke the deadlock midway through the first half when Peter Whittingham’s fierce corner kick delivery was turned into his own net by Royals centre-back Alex Pearce. It continued to be a nightmare evening for Pearce as, with half time looming, he hauled down his former teammate Adam le Fondre for a City spot-kick. The challenge earned the defender a red card and saw the score-line doubled, as Whittingham dispatched the resultant penalty with consummate ease. The Royals set up a nervy finale when Michael Hector drove a low shot through Marshall with ten minutes remaining, but City held strong to earn the points and take themselves to within three points of the playoff positions.
Cardiff City: Marshall, Connolly (Fábio), Turner, S Morrison, Brayford, Noone (Daehli), Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Pilkington, le Fondre, Macheda (Jones). Subs not used: Manga, Adeyemi, R Morrison, Moore.
Watford: DDWLLL
Last time out: Watford 1-2 Derby County – Saturday 22nd November 2014, Sky Bet Championship
Derby went clear at the top of the Championship after Craig Bryson's impressive strike from outside the area saw them win at Watford. Jordan Ibe put the Rams ahead six minutes before half-time when he found the net from 20 yards. The hosts dominated much of the second half and Gianni Munari struck a deserved equaliser from close range. But Bryson secured the win for Steve McLaren's side when he fired high into Jonathan Bond's goal.
Watford: Bond, Paredes, Ekstrand, Bassong Nguena, Doyley, Andrews (Munari), Tozser, Ighalo (Vydra), Forestieri, Dyer (Anya), Deeney. Subs Not Used: Angella, Cathcart, Murray, Gilmartin.
LAST COMPETITIVE MEETING
2012/13: Saturday 6th April, Championship: Watford 0-0 Cardiff City
An important point on the road as City edged towards the 2012/13 Championship title. David Marshall denied Troy Deeney with an excellent save while opposing keeper Manuel Almunia did well to keep out Kim Bo-Kyung and Joe Mason. This result left Cardiff with an eight-point automatic promotion gap with six games left to play.
Watford: Almunia, Doyley, Briggs, Cassetti, Chalobah, Ekstrand, Anya, Abdi, Battocchio (Hogg), Deeney, Vydra (Forestieri). Subs Not Used: Bond, Pudil, Thompson, Yeates, Geijo.
Cardiff City: Marshall, Taylor, Turner, Connolly (McNaughton), Barnett, Conway (Smith), Kim Bo-Kyung, Gunnarsson, Mutch, Mason (Gestede), Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Lewis, Whittingham, Cowie, Helguson.
Tickets for this match are still available. The Ticket Office will remain open till 11am at CCS but away tickets will not be sold at Vicarage Road.
