WATFORD F.C. v CARDIFF CITY F.C. After Watford's hard-fought victory away to Hull we now host first-placed Cardiff City F.C. The bluebirds (or is that red dragons now?) sit 8 points above Watford with a game in hand in the Championship table. Cardiff beat Blackburn in their last game. However, they have, like us, been stuttering a bit of late despite their good position with only six (seven for Cardiff) games reamining. Second-placed Hull host Middlesborough earlier on Saturday. While fourth-placed Palace host Barnsley. Zola after the Hull game: "This team never lets me down. Every time there's a game which is very important they always perform. That shows you the character and temperament of this group." Let's hope it's the same this Saturday... Mackay on his return to the Vic: "It's easy to say [winning at Watford], it's not quite as easy to do, They've been doing very well this season.. they're a great club and there's some fantastic people that work there that I know very well. So it'll be great to go back there on Saturday night... it's one that we'll be really looking forward to." Hopefully the journey home will leave him with food for thought. We all know this is a big game, as are all of them from now on in. A win would be ideal in the push for automatic promotion. They don't come much bigger than this in the Championship. Game on.... TEAM NEWS FROM ESPN: Manuel Almunia hopes to be available for Watford's crunch promotion clash at home to leaders Cardiff. The former Arsenal goalkeeper has missed the last six games with a hamstring injury but is likely to be fit for selection against the Bluebirds, although replacement Jonathan Bond has performed well in his absence. Bond kept a clean sheet in Tuesday's 1-0 victory at second-place Hull, a result which saw the Hornets close to within one point of the automatic promotion places. Defenders Fitz Hall (hamstring) and Matthew Briggs (knock) were both forced off at the KC Stadium and are doubtful, as is midfielder Jonathan Hogg who missed out altogether with a calf problem. Nyron Nosworthy (Achilles), Neuton (dislocated shoulder), Tommie Hoban (ankle) and John Eustace (back) all remain sidelined. Cardiff striker Fraizer Campbell is an injury worry for the Championship leaders. The former Sunderland striker has scored six times in 11 appearances since his January move, the most recent in the 3-0 win over Blackburn on Monday. But the England international was forced to come off in that impressive victory and will be assessed ahead of the meeting with the promotion-chasing Hornets. Former Plymouth striker Joe Mason scored following his introduction against Rovers and he is the likely replacement if Campbell is unavailable. The midfield four of Jordon Mutch, Aron Gunnarsson, Craig Conway and Kim Bo-Kyung are likely to line up again after impressing in the comfortable victory. Cardiff make the trip with an eight-point cushion over Gianfranco Zola's men and seven ahead of second-place Hull. COMMENTS WELCOME > ENJOY THE GAME. COYH COYH COYH !!! I am going for a 2-1 win with (yeah and it's been a while) a Vydra double.
Maybe I have missed something but did he not take most all of the backroom staff and a player, and most of the others have been replaced since he left. A win for the Hornets 2:0.
A win for them would more or less guarantee promotion - leaving them just 5 points to get. Even a draw and they are all but there - a defeat though could send shivers down their spines as they also have Forest and Hull to play - however points in the bag are better than games in hand and they are 8 points clear. For us a win would be tremendous but a draw is not bad as Hull have them to play too and would expect to perform similarly - so we would still be within reach even if they beat Middlesbrough.
Some early team news; http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sp...34713.Almunia_could_return_for_Cardiff_clash/ and cardiff's view on us; http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/scout-watford-away-753182.aspx
This is a big game this season. If we both get promoted playing Cardiff next season will be one of the easy games!
I'll be trying to watch this match from somewhere in Stockholm..can't believe i won't be there! Gutted doesn't cut it! 3-1 of course, and MM leaving with his tail between his legs, wishing he'd held on another season
What rule change is Malky on about? http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2013/04/05/91466-33122551/ The commentators on 5live the other night seemed to suggest the chairmen might vote to keep the "loophole" in place
At a guess. I would say he is on about the rule that the journalist questioned him about. Do your rags always print things as they are then? ours tend to embellish!
The match is being shown on TV10 which is available on most basic Tv subscriptions. You shouldn't have to much problem finding a TV with it on.
Maybe they should get their facts right and not wait to be corrected. Fancy having to change the version that has been posted on-line.
Yes - Cardiff fans have said it on their site - they also do not want to see HH or Cowie playing - nor do I as both would probably score against us
Moving on from my love affair with Fessi for a love with Buaben. Saw him at Hull and I think he really is what we need. Chalobah and Abdi won't get kicked about as much. Although, I still want Fessi to start, Vydra has gone a bit quiet and I think Fessi could cause more problems. Think we'll lose 3-2, but I'd love us to batter Malky. It should be a great game either way (hopefully better than the Hull game!)
In probably the longest run of facing each other every season (07/08 onwards) we've only won twice - the first one of those games and then in December 2010. It's about time we started to re-dress the balance.
A win for Watford and the season becomes a massive 'cauldron' for all three clubs, a draw virtually seals promotion for them, for me provided Watford bring their A game-- there is only one winner........