by Simon Glanville and Mark Denham

Highlights this game will be on World at 21:30 on Thursday

Snapshot: The Bluebirds were unfortunate to go behind on Wednesday evening after dominating the opening exchanges; Tommy Smith's penalty gave the visitors an early advantage on nine minutes though after Stephen McPhail tripped Jobi McAnuff inside the area. City were on level terms five minutes later however, when Jay Bothroyd converted Chris Burke's cross at the end of sublime City move. The scores would remain at 1-1 going in to the half time break.

City again dominated the majority of the second half though struggled to trouble Scott Loach too often in the Watford goal. Roger Johnson and Ross McCormack both had opportunites to give the Bluebirds the lead though neither forced the 'keeper in to a save. With minutes remaining it was Watford who looked the more likely to score, though in the sixth minute of stoppage time, a Ross McCormack penalty ensured Cardiff would take all three points and moveback up to fifth in the Championship. It was a fitting end to the game played in tribute to the the late Jeff Richards.

Chronological report:

Before proceedings began Cardiff City paid tribute to a true City great. Jeff Richards, the Assistant Safety Officer at the club, sadly passed away at the age of 61. A minutes applause was adhered to by everyone in the ground, which was a fitting tribute for Jeff.

After an uneventful first few minutes it was the visitors who had the first scoring opportunity. Former Bluebird Jobi McAnuff picked up the ball in his own half and coasted through the City defence before being brought down in the box by Stephen McPhail. Tommy Smith tucked the resultant spot kick away to give the visitors an early, and surprise lead.

Cardiff City 0 Watford 1 (Smith pen 9 mins)

The goal seemed to spark City into life and Parry went close after a good ball in from Chris Burke. Joe Ledley then shot straight at Scott Loach after a lovely touch from Jay Bothroyd. Some great passing football from Cardiff then resulted in a quick equaliser. After good work from Bothroyd and Parry, the ball fell to Burke. The visitors failed to clear his cross, and Bothroyd was there to smash home and level up the scores.

Cardiff City 1 Watford 1 (Bothroyd 15 mins)

A fantastic tackle by Roger Johnson then kept out the visitors at the other end as Watford responded to the City equaliser. Great work by Tamas Priskin then forced the first corner of the match for Watford, which Cardiff eventually cleared. While Watford were clearly showing why they have improved in the league recently, Cardiff were also looking dangerous, with Bothroyd in particular proving a menace to the Hornets defence. Another delightful Bothroyd flick almost saw McCormack hit the target, but the ball span out for a goal kick. A Tony Capaldi throw then caused havoc in the Watford defence, but somehow the ball was scrambled away without a Cardiff player getting a touch.

Jack Cork was then the first to go in the book after he brought down an on rushing Bothroyd. From the resultant free kick Kevin McNaughton's high ball was met by McCormack, but his low strike fell the wrong side of Loach's right-hand post.

Cardiff then went extremely close to taking the lead after another long Tony Capaldi throw evaded everyone but 'keeper Loach, who had to tip it around the post. Chris Burke also went close as Cardiff began to dominate, his shot being blocked.

The visitors then won a free kick in a dangerous position after Priskin was brought down by Gyepes. Don Cowie struck the set piece from fully 25 yards but his effort went narrowly wide of Taylor's post.

Burke was proving a threat down the right hand side and his low cross had to be scrambled away by Lloyd Doyley as Cardiff continued to press. McCormack was also busy after getting the better of the returning McAnuff, to the delight of the Ninian Park crowd.

Cardiff then had a dangerous free kick of their own, after Bothroyd was brought down after receiving a terrific ball from Ledley. Ross McCormack took it but his shot went straight into the visitors' wall. Ledley then had a golden chance to put the Bluebirds ahead after being released by Bothroyd, but looked to square the ball rather than shoot himself, which allowed Watford to clear.

Cardiff were certainly finishing the half the better of the two sides but had some defendingto do after Cork was brought down out wide. McCormack then tried his luck from the edge of the area but saw his curling strike well held by Loach. A poor pass by Ledley then allowed Cowie space, but his ambitious drive went comfortably over Taylor's bar.

Adrian Mariappa then went into the referee's notebook just before the break after a dangerous challenge on Ledley. That was to be the last piece of action of the half as the teams went in all square at the break.

Half time: Cardiff City 1 Watford 1

Dave Jones made a change at the break, bringing on Peter Whittingham in place of Paul Parry.

Cardiff City substitution: Peter Whittingham for Paul Parry (46 mins).

McNaughton became the first Cardiff player to receive a yellow cardafter he brought down McAnuff at the beginning of the second period . Cardiff quickly broke down the other end though, and Loach could only watch as a McCormack headed drifted inches wide of his far post. Roger Johnson also saw a header comfortably saved by Loach as Cardiff started the half brightly.

Watford were beginning to frustrate the home side and won a corner after some neat build up play. McAnuff swung it in, but Gyepes was there to head away powerfully.

Bothroyd was trying to get the home side going, and his pass to Burke almost created a chance for McCormack, as City probed for a second goal. The game was becoming scrappy as Cardiff won a succession of free kicks, which came to no avail. McCormack almost got on the end of a Bothroyd flick on as City went close again, backed by strong support from the Ninian Park faithful.

Whittingham then had a chance to make his mark on the game when he struck a free kick after Mike Williamson was penalised for a climb on Bothroyd, but again the shot went into the Watford wall.

It wasn't all one way traffic though, as Smith drew a save from Taylor after receiving a great ball from McAnuff. Cardiff then won another corner after a Whittingham drive was deflected behind. After the corner was cleared, Ledley put in a delightful ball which Bothroyd got on the end of, only to see his header miss the goal by inches.

Dave Jones then made his second change as Michael Chopra took to the field in place of Chris Burke.

Cardiff City substitution: Michael Chopra for Chris Burke (74 mins).

It was the visitors who were next to go close though, as Priskin almost got the better of Johnson in the City half. McNaughton then chopped Priskin down to give Watford a free kick out wide. Don Cowie took it, and City managed to clear for a corner.

McAnuff was the next Watford player to go in the book, after he hacked down McCormack after the Scottish striker mopped up at the back for City. Cardiff were then crying for a penalty after Roger Johnson went down in the box after what looked like a push, but neither the referee nor linesman were convinced.

Defences were coming out on top as both sides pushed for a winner, but Watford were almost presented with a golden chance after a Tommy Smith cross caused havoc. Johnson's attempted clearance went towards his own goal, but Taylor was there to collect.

With three minutes remaining, McCormack presented City with another scoring chance after being hacked down by DeMerit on the edge of the box. But once again, the free kick went straight into the Watford wall.

And Watford nearly made Cardiff pay for their woeful finishing, as an unmarked Cork saw his header fly narrowly wide of Taylor's goal. The visotors then won another corner in the last minute of normal time, but Gyepes was there again to clear.

Three minutes of added time was held up by the fourth official, but it was Watford who were finishing the better. Consecutive corners were cleared by the City defence and then Jenkins fired wide with an audacious volley.

But it was Cardiff who stole it at the end. First McCormack saw his long range strike tipped over by Loach, and Roger Johnson's header from the resultant corner was then handled on the line by Hornets defender. McCormack stepped us, and smashed the ball past a helpless Loach to hand Cardiff an invaluable three points.

Cardiff City 2 Watford 1 (Ross McCormack 90)

Full-time: Cardiff City 2 Watford 1

Cardiff City: Taylor, McNaughton, Roger Johnson, Gyepes, Capaldi, Parry (Whittingham 46), McPhail, Ledley, Burke (Chopra 74), Bothroyd, McCormack. Subs not used: Rae, Eddie Johnson, Kennedy.

Watford: Loach, Cork, DeMerit, Mike Williamson, Doyley, Jenkins, Mariappa, Cowie, McAnuff, Smith, Priskin. Subs not used: Lee, Hoyte, Lee Williamson, Hoskins, Cauna.

Attendance: 17,899.

Referee: A R Hall