Match Report | Watford 0-1 Cardiff City
The Bluebirds returned to winning ways with a hard-fought victory over Watford at Vicarage Road.
Erol Bulut made three changes to our most recent starting lineup, with Kion Etete, Josh Bowler and Manolis Siopis in the XI from the off.
There were plenty of new faces on the bench, as Nat Phillips, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, David Turnbull and Famara Diédhiou came straight into the squad. Aaron Ramsey also returned to the matchday squad for the first time since September.
Both sides started brightly, with City looking to pounce on the break inside the first 15 minutes. The hosts had chances through Ryan Andrews and Yáser Asprilla, though Jak Alnwick made two saves, doing particularly well to claw Asprilla's effort away.
Josh Bowler looked lively on the right flank, firing one effort wide of goal, whilst Rubin Colwill impressed throughout the opening 45, driving forward with some marvellous touches in the centre of the park. The Welsh playmaker shot on goal after half an hour, but his effort was slightly too high.
Alnwick was in action once again as the half drew to a close, keeping his focus to tip a wayward, dipping cross over the woodwork.
Two minutes before the break, Bowler produced a moment of magic to break the deadlock. The winger cut inside with some neat footwork before curling a superb strike past Ben Hamer and into the far corner.
Erol's men began the second half with attacking intent. Colwill did well to earn a free-kick in a dangerous area, which Perry Ng sent narrowly wide of the post.
Kion Etete also struck on goal after latching onto a loose ball, but his effort couldn't trouble Hamer. Josh Bowler almost found Etete with a clipped ball minutes later, though his pass was inches ahead of the stretching striker.
Watford made several second half changes to try and get back into the game, striking the post through Vakoun Bayo. The hosts began to control more of the ball, but shots on goal were rare.
One effort did come in from Wesley Hoedt, a swerving strike which left everybody flat-footed, but thankfully rustled the side netting.
Jak Alnwick was called into action once again, at full stretch to deny Tom Dele-Bashiru, before Dimi Goutas produced a heroic block to somehow keep out a point-blank effort.
The Bluebirds held firm to see out the victory, taking three points back to the Welsh capital. We're back at CCS next Saturday, February 10th, taking on Preston North End at 3pm.
Full Time: Watford 0-1 Cardiff City
Cardiff City: Alnwick, Ng (Romeo 73'), Goutas, McGuinness, Collins (Phillips 82'), Wintle (C), Siopis, R. Colwill (Turnbull 63'), Bowler (Wilson-Esbrand 73'), Grant, Etete (Diedhiou 81').
Substitutes: Turner, Ramsey, Tanner, Méïté.