Match Report | Cardiff City 1-2 Watford
Cardiff City were narrowly defeated by a strong Watford side on Wednesday evening.
A ninth minute header from Cédric Kipré gave the Bluebirds the lead, but another header, this time from Francisco Sierralta, meant the scores were level going into half time. Another corner led to Ismaila Sarr condemning Cardiff to defeat.
Interim manager Mark Hudson made two changes from Saturday's win against Rotherham United, with Mahlon Romeo and Jaden Philogene coming into the starting eleven.
It was City who started the fastest, forcing Slaven Bilić’s Hornets into two early mistakes, the first coming when Daniel Bachmann was slow to react with the ball at his feet, which allowed Mark Harris eyes’ to light up. However, Bachmann narrowly scrambled the ball away.
The second chance came from a quick press from the Bluebirds, and when Edo Kayembe played a sloppy back-pass, Bachmann had to react quickly as Callum O’Dowda dived in with an attempt to win the ball.
The first goal of the game came when Andy Rinomhota won the ball in the middle of the park and played in Romeo down the right, who saw a cross blocked for a corner.
From Joe Ralls’ in-swinging ball, an unmarked Kipré headed the ball past the Watford keeper before he could react to open the scoring.
Watford finished the half strongly, creating numerous chances which Ryan Allsop did well to keep out, until a 38th minute corner, which Sierralta headed home to draw the scores level at half-time.
City started the second half brightly, however the first big chance of the period fell to Watford, when Mario Gaspar’s pass cut open the City defence. However Vakoun Bayo could not latch onto it.
Joao Pedro went close after latching onto a loose ball, which was eventually seen out of play. However, from the resulting corner Watford took the lead as Sarr glanced the ball past a helpless Allsop.
City immediately searched for an equaliser, with another Ralls corner finding an unmarked O’Dowda, but unlike Kipré, he couldn’t turn the header goalwards.
As Watford sat back and made more defensive substitutions, the Cardiff fans rallied behind their team, pushing them on to find an equaliser, and it nearly came late on after Mark Hudson switched up his attack. In the 86th minute, substitute Sheyi Ojo was played in by Jaden Philogene, but Bachmann got down low to save the shot.
The Bluebirds couldn't find an equaliser in the dying stages, despite a spirited display at both ends of the pitch. City now turn their attention to our weekend meeting with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, which kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, 5th November.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 1-2 WATFORD
Cardiff City: Allsop, Romeo (Watters 90'), Wintle, Ralls ©, O’Dowda (Ojo 68'), Kipré, Philogene, Harris (Etete 68'), Rinomhota (Sawyers 68'), Nkounkou, Ng. Subs not used: Sang, Nelson, Alnwick.
Watford: Bachmann, Gaspar, Ekong ©, Pedro, Sema (Asprilla 90'), Kamara, Gosling, Bayo (Hungbo 79'), Sarr (Kabasele 90'), Sierralta, Kayembe. Subs not used: Okoye, Dele-Bashiru, Pollock, Morris.
