BRISTOL CITY v WATFORD FC Team news from www.espn.com: Bristol City will be without Derrick Williams when they host Watford in the FA Cup third round. The left-sided centre-back will serve a one-match ban after picking up five yellow cards, forcing manager Steve Cotterill to shuffle his pack for the cup tie. And that could mean a shock return to Robins action for long-serving defender Liam Fontaine who returned to the club on Thursday after a loan spell at Yeovil. Millwall loanee Karleigh Osborne is available to play against the Hornets, Nottingham Forest's Simon Gillett is injured and cup-tied while Nicky Shorey and Marlon Harewood have left the club. Watford will be without as many as 10 players. Striker Fernando Forestieri (knee), defender Davide Faraoni (ankle), Ikechi Anya (groin) and fellow wing-back Daniel Pudil (hamstring) are all ruled out at Ashton Gate. Long-term absentees Almen Abdi (foot), Essaid Belkalem and Tommie Hoban (all ankle) also continue to remain on the sidelines. Meanwhile, loanees George Thorne, Josh McEachran and Hector Bellerin (not exactly, however, Bellerin is not eligible, http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sp...47.Watford_re_sign_Arsenal_youngster_on_loan/) have each returned to their parent clubs upon completion of their deals with the Hornets. Some stats from the BBC: These teams have both finished runners-up in the FA Cup once. Bristol City were beaten in the 1909 final by Manchester United. 30 years ago Graham Taylor led Watford to their only appearance in the FA Cup final. The Hornets were beaten by Everton. Bristol City are one of 12 League One teams remaining in the FA Cup, including Crawley, who still have to play their second-round replay. Bristol City and Watford have met once before in the FA Cup, in 1932. Finally some local rag talk: From the Hornets http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sp...11271.Bristol_City_v_Watford_betting_preview/ and also the new lads, Mathias Ranegie and Alexander Merkel, won't play, http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sp...confirm_double_signing_of_Ranegie_and_Merkel/ And from the Robins http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/FA-CUP-RUN-HELP-SAYS-CAREY/story-20395099-detail/story.html Comments welcome , enjoy the game I'd take a 0-1 here, F.A. Cup ties can be hard and sounds like we have a few players out too. Bristol City are down at the bottom of league one, but what does that mean in the cup when they are at home too.
I don't think we will be able to rest players given our injury list - we might rest Deeney but I doubt it as Forestieri is injured. This will be a difficult game for us - we're not exactly setting the Championship alight at the moment but our defense is much better now than it was under Zola so I'll go for a 0-1 as well.
Given what Sannino said earlier in the week that he realises how important the FA Cup is, I wouldn't be surprised if Almunia plays.
Thanks Mex. Now I thought we were going to get our revenge at Yeovil had it gone ahead the other day, and my confidence is carried forward to today. 3-1 to the Golden Boys.
Last Hertfordshire side to play at Ashton Gate lost 4-1 but when you look at how Stevenage have been this season, it's not saying much.
People reporting that sniffer dogs and body searches outside Ashton Gate. Anyone got a flare I wonder?
Watfordfc start XI v City: Almunia; Nosworthy, Angella, Ekstrand; Cassetti, Murray, Iriney, McGugan, Battocchio; Deeney, Fabbrini.
Bristol City: Parish; Osborne, Flint, Fontaine; Wagstaff, Elliott, Reid, Pack, Bryan; Emmanuel-Thomas & Baldock. Subs: Fielding (GK), Cunningham, Carey, Moloney, Wynter, Burns & Taylor.
A fairly strong starting line-up with slightly weaker bench? Normally managers do it the other way round in the cup don't they?
I think he wants to do well in the Cup so has put out a decent side, but take out all the injured players he doesn't have too many to choose from.
Rain still coming down, but not quite so bad at present. The pitch will be pretty heavy though. Both sides playing 3-5-2
Good number of travelling Horns. Games underway. Battocchio having to play left wing back. McGugan gets a shot away, but wide.
The ball is running well over the wet pitch. No puddles. Good passing around by City. Foul on Almunia. The ball is salmon pink.
Iriney gives the ball away by not looking around. Baldock gets a shot in, but saved. Good spell from City.
