Match Day Thread BRISTOL CITY V WATFORD

BRISTOL CITY v WATFORD
Ashton Gate Stadium
Saturday 12th November 2022
Kick Off: 1500 GMT

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So here we go, the last game before the big shut down for a month. All twenty four teams will want to go into this enforced break with a win under their belts, with Watford and City hoping to do so for reasons at both ends of the table.

Watford have won four of their last five in the league to move up into 5th place of the table under manager Slaven Bilic, whilst the Robins under Nigel Pearson find themselves winless in four, and in 20th place. “Bristol City have become relegation fodder, seemingly out of nowhere too. One minute they were in the top-six and now there’s just one team between them and the relegation zone", but this is the Championship where a win or defeat can result in rapid change.

João Pedro has scored four goals in his last five league games for Watford, as many as he had in his previous 32 appearances, two of them Tuesday night.

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Facts

Eight of the last 12 league meetings between Bristol City and Watford at Ashton Gate have ended in draws, including the most recent game in November 2020.

Watford haven’t conceded in five of their last nine league games against Bristol City, including each of their last two.

Ten of the last 11 games between the sides have seen at least one of the teams score two or more goals, with the Hornets managing this eight times, and the Robins six. The only exception being the goalless draw in November 2020.

Watford have scored 13 goals over the last five fixtures with the Robins in all competitions, including six in the most recent game. The Hornets have only conceded three in that time.

Our Officials

DAVID WEBB

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Matthew Jones and Sam Lewis
Fourth Official : John Busby











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No new injury worries but bug has gone through the #watfordfc camp (including Bilic, who sounds very croaky). Not Covid, no names of anyone ruled out but obviously with a bug things can change.

 

Sarr may not play tomorrow after all?

Bilic may rethink plans for Sarr as Watford travel to Bristol City | Watford Observer

 

Probably see how motivated he is ..

 

City's last five home games:
Oct 4 Coventry 0-0 D
Oct 12 Preston 2-1 W
Oct 15 Millwall 1-2 L
Oct 29 Swansea 1-1 D
Nov 1 Sheff U 0-1 L

P5 W1 D2 L2 4-5 5pts

Watford's last five away games:
Oct 2 Stoke 4-0 W
Oct 8 Blackpool 1-3 L
Oct 19 Millwall 0-3 L
Oct 29 Wigan 1-0 W
Nov 2 Cardiff 2-1 W

P5 W3 D0 L2 8-7 9pts

 

We will probably need to be ready for a strong reaction from Bristol City after a poor mid week result .

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63570236

 

Morning guys tough game for us today -we started really well and you started poor however that has sadly reversed.

Nige Pearson is starting to divide the fans at Ashton Gate however for me we need to stick with him and let him sort the **** show out that he inherited.

We need a result today however with your form going to be a tough game.

Safe journeys down to your fans and may the best team win.

I would take a draw but we need a win cannot afford a loss.

 

I think you’re right. Pearson is a very impressive man, I always thought, even when he was Leicester manager. I think he deserves a club to stick with him, and he’s perhaps the one manager I really regret us losing in the Pozzo era.
It’s been a long time since we were both leading the third tier, eh? Happy days. I remember watching us against Rovers, and the “One team in Bristol” that we sang, sent them bloody crazy! They were running down the stand (our Rookery, which is home fans now) as if they were going to storm the pitch!

This is the Championship, so in terms of form etc., it doesn’t always go as expected, so I’m not thinking for a second this is a dead cert.

Anyway, all the best.

 

Got to agree this championship on the day any team can beat any team.

We need to stick with Nige the majority understand but you always get the fans that want instant success.

 

Oh God, we have more than a few of them!

 

Can anyone remind me if we can purcase a video pass for this one? ( in the uk)

 

Audio only if you are in the UK; Video if you are abroad.

 

3:00pm ban alas

 

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Why is JP only on the bench?

Not sure about that .

Being a bit complacent..

 

Team news: Sarr and Pedro both on the bench, precautionary as both are carrying knocks. Asprilla out totally today with an ankle injury. Gaspar and Kamara return to the team, Kalu makes his first start of the season.

 

Good question - strange reward for his two goals against Reading.

And no Asprilla either?

 

Asprilla injured.

Did read talk of a bug in the squad but don’t know how true that is.

 

Slaven Bilic has spoken to the club website about the likes of Sarr and Pedro being on the bench: "Their condition now means they are close to injury so we have to be careful. We know they can play for only 20 or 30 minutes today. Any more and we are taking big risks with their fitness. We have other players ready to play and there is confidence in the squad with our results and performances."