After three away games in succession, Cardiff City are back on home soil awaiting Watford's arrival on Sunday. Simon Glanville previews the game.
Cardiff team news: Michael Chopra is back in contention for Cardiff City after serving his recent two-game suspension. The striker has missed the last two matches after picking up his tenth booking of the season at Ipswich, but is now free to play again and therefore gives Dave Jones a selection headache. Peter Whittingham, Stephen McPhail and Mark Kennedy have all returned from injury and should be ok to play a third time in the space of a week. Gabor Gyepes is expected to shake off a back injury, though Kevin McNaughton is struggling with a thigh strain.
Watford team news: Will Buckley did his chances of making his Watford debut against Cardiff on Sunday no harm at all after scoring for the reserves in midweek. The winger joined the Hornets from Rochdale in January but has been sidelined for six weeks because of a thigh injury. Malky Mackay has no new injury concerns, as his side head to Cardiff looking to build on their recent confidence boosting win over Ipswich.
Watford's season so far: An un-fancied Watford caused a stir at the start of the season after an encouraging start saw them flirt with the top six places. But in recent weeks the Hornets' form has tailed off at an alarming rate. Before beating Ipswich last time out they had lost four league games in a row, dragging them into a relegation battle. Malky Mackay's side visit Cardiff City Stadium sat nineteenth in the Championship table, just four points above the relegation zone.
Last meeting: Cardiff City romped to victory the last time they met Watford, which was back in October at Vicarage Road. The visiting Bluebirds were two to the good at the break thanks to a Peter Whittingham penalty and a first senior goal from Adam Matthews. After the interval Cardiff's dominance continued with Whittingham grabbing his second and Jay Bothroyd adding a fourth to round off a memorable win.
Teams from last meeting at Vicarage Road on 3rd October 2009:
Watford: Loach, Doyley, Mariappa, Cathcart, Hodson, Eustace, Cleverley, Cowie (Harley, 79), Jenkins (Lansbury, 73), Hoskins (Ellington, 59), Graham. Subs not used: Lee, Severin, Henderson, Bennett.
Bluebirds: Marshall, Gerrard, Hudson, Kennedy (Quinn, 57), Burke, Whittingham, Rae (Ledley, 79), Matthews, McPhail, Chopra (McCormack, 89), Bothroyd. Subs not used: Scimeca, Enckelman, Gyepes, Taiwo.
Attendance: 13,895
Watford last time out: Struggling Watford gave their survival hopes a boost last time out by overcoming Roy Keane's Ipswich on home soil. On-loan Arsenal youngster Henri Lansbury put the hosts ahead, but Jack Colback pegged them back on sixty-eight minutes. The Hornets pressed for a winner and they got it when Will Hoskins fired home with less than fifteen minutes remaining.
Watford: Loach, Doyley, Martin Taylor, DeMerit, Mariappa, Eustace, Lansbury (Harley, 85), Cleverley, Cowie, Hoskins (Jenkins, 80), Helguson (Graham, 72). Subs not used: Lee, McGinn, Buckley, Hodson.
