MATCH FACTS: CARDIFF VS WATFORD
Club News
27th December
Cardiff City vs Watford
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Date: Sunday 28th December 2014, 3:00pm
Cardiff City host Watford, aiming to get back to winning ways in front of the Cardiff City Stadium faithful. City drew 1-1 with Charlton on Boxing Day, a late equaliser denying Russell Slade's side all three points at the Valley, while the Hornets were defeated at home against Wolves in their post-Christmas clash.
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Tickets for this match are still available. Please call 0845 345 1400 or buy tickets online now!
MATCH FACTS
- Cardiff's last victory was against the Hornets, a 1-0 win on November 29th
- Watford have recorded three wins and one loss in December
- Darius Henderson scored twice on the Hornets last win in the Welsh Capital, a 2-1 win back in September 2007
- Slaviša Jokanović is Watford's fourth manager of the campaign so far
- The Hornets have a 45% win record on the road this season
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 nine times this current campaign, including five goals since City and Watford met on November 29th.
ONE TO WATCH: Matěj Vydra
Forward Vydra re-joined the Club in the summer on a second loan spell. He previously spent the 2012/13 season with Watford on loan from Udinese, hitting the back of the net on 20 occasions from just 40 matches. A season in the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion followed before his parent side allowed Vydra to return to Vicarage Road for 2014/15, already scoring seven times this season. A true asset in attack for Slaviša Jokanović to use alongside, or instead of Deeney at times with Fernando Forestieri also playing a crucial attacking role for the Hornets when required.
RECENT FORM (ALL COMPETITIONS)
Cardiff City: WWDLLD
Last time out: Charlton Athletic 1-1 Cardiff City - Friday 26th December 2014, Sky Bet Championship
Johann Berg Gudmundsson's long range strike with two minutes remaining meant Cardiff City were forced to settle for a point against 10-men Charlton Athletic at the Valley on Boxing Day. Tom Adeyemi opened the scoring after 12 minutes following a well worked throw in., Aron Gunnarsson with a trademark arrowed effort into the penalty area was nodded on by Ben Turner with Adeyemi rising highest to head home his first Cardiff City goal. Charlton's Boxing Day looked to have taken a further nosedive on 33 minutes when Callum Harriott was sent from the field of play for a dangerous challenge on Craig Noone. The Bluebirds firmly in control throughout the first period at the Valley. Despite City’s performance in the opening 45 minutes, a valiant second half display from the Addicks saw them claim a late share of the spoils thanks to Gudmundsson's effort.
Cardiff City: Marshall, Brayford, Turner, Morrison, John, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Adeyemi (Ralls, 88), Noone, Le Fondre (Harris, 69), Jones. Subs Not Used: Moore, Fabio, Connolly, Manga, Macheda.
LLWWWLWatford:
Last time out: Watford 0-1 Wolves – Friday 26th December 2014, Sky Bet Championship
The Hornets tasted defeat for the first time in December, with Wolves leaving Vicarage Road with all three points. The visitors carved out a string of first-half chances, Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes denying David Edwards and Kortney Hause with fine saves. They went ahead when Rajiv van La Parra's pull back allowed Nouha Dicko to score from from six yards. The hosts went close to equalising in the closing stages when substitute Odion Ighalo hit the crossbar but they could’t find the levelling goal in a tough Boxing Day clash.
Watford: Gomes, Doyley, Cathcart, Bassong, Munari (Forestieri, 64), Paredes, Tozser (Guédioura, 72), Abdi, Anyda, Deeney, Vydra (Ighalo, 63). Subs Not Used: Bond, Pudil, Dyer, Hoban.
LAST COMPETITIVE MEETING
2014/15: Saturday 29th November, Championship: Watford 0-1 Cardiff City
Russell Slade guided his City side to a superb away win at Watford on Saturday afternoon. It marked the Bluebirds’ first victory of the season and lifted them to eighth in the Sky Bet Championship – two points off the Play-Off places. In the 12th minute, Cardiff deservedly went ahead. A very sharp looking Pilkington delivered a superb ball towards the centre of the penalty area, allowing Jones to rise and head goalwards under challenge from Gomes. Adam Le Fondre was on hand to walk the ball over the line with seemingly an age to do so and although Jones stayed down in the area during the aftermath, he soon returned to see 1-0 City on the scoreboard. It would be Le Fondre’s first competitive goal in Cardiff colours. City withheld Watford’s barrage of attacking pressure to secure the win.
Watford: Gomes, Bassong, Ekstrand, Angella, Paredes (Forestieri, 67), Abdi (Guédioura, 67), Tozser, Munari, Anya, Deeney, Vydra. Subs Not Used: Doyley, Cathcart, Pudil, Dyer, Gilmartin.
Cardiff City: Marshall, Connolly (Fabio, 52), Morrison, Turner, Brayford, Pilkington (Ralls, 70), Gunnarsson (Adeyemi, 73), Whittingham, Noone, Le Fondre, Jones. Subs Not Used: Moore, Macheda, Daehli, Maynard.
Tickets for this match are still available. Please call 0845 345 1400 or buy tickets online now!
