Cardiff City were held to a draw 1-1 against Watford at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday night.
Omer Riza made 7 changes to the side that beat Sheffield United 1-0 in the FA Cup last Thursday. Among those to keep their place from the win were Cian Ashford, Jesper Daland, Perry Ng and Rubin Colwill.
The evening's opening chance came inside the opening 5 minutes, as Alex Robertson capitalised on a mistake by Ryan Porteous, picking up the ball just inside the half and drove toward the Watford defence. Pulling the trigger on the shot, keeper Jonathan Bond was able to safely gather the ball.
Shortly after Chris Willock was able to test Bond. After picking up the ball from Robertson, he cut inside onto his right and drew a fingertip save from the Watford keeper, who pushed it away for a corner.
Calum Chambers tried his luck on the half volley from a tight angle as the ball fell to him, he chested the ball down and gets the shot on target however it was easy enough for Bond to gather with the narrow angle.
City continued to press, looking for an opening in the Watford defence however unable to create a clear-cut chance to open the scoring at half time.
After the break, City earned themselves a corner where Robertson sent it into the near post, which deflected towards Chambers at the back post, however Francisco Sierralta cleared away the danger for another corner.
Rubin Colwill went agonisingly close after beating Mattie Pollock, he drove to the edge of the box but just drags his shot away from the far post.
Next up to go close was Perry Ng, as another ball was sent into the Watford area, he connected with it well on the volley, however it hit a Watford defender and went behind for another corner.
However, the breakthrough came on the 65 minute mark through Cian Ashford. Chambers won the ball in midfield, and Robertson attempted to take it on but the ball bounced off the trailing leg of Chambers and into the path of Ashford, who slotted it into the back of the net with his left foot.
The Bluebirds continued to press to double the lead, however in the 87th minute, the Hornets equalised as Kwadwo Baah won the ball in the box, chipped it into Vakoun Bayo, who headed home from close range.
Jak AlnwIck made a vital stop with a fingertip save in the dying minutes to deny Rocco Vala, who hit it from outside the area, with the keeper staying alert to push away the danger.
FULL TIME: CARDIFF CITY 1-1 WATFORD
Cardiff City: Alnwick, Ng, Daland, Goutas, O’Dowda, Rinomhota, Chambers, Robertson (Ralls 88’), R. Colwill (Méïté 79’), Willock (Tanner 68’), Ashford (Bagan 88’). Subs Not Used: Horvath, Fish, Etete, Kanga, Pearce.
Watford: Bond, Sierralta, Porteous (Vata 60’), Pollock, Ngakia, Larouci (Ebosele 83’), Louza, Sissoko © (Kayembe 68’), Chakvetadze, Bayo, Baah. Subs Not Used: Roberts, Ince, Doumbia, Ogbonna, Dele-Bashiru, Andrews.