Dom Ballard’s brilliant first half strike proved enough for Bristol City to return to winnings ways with a 1-0 Championship victory over Watford at Ashton Gate.
The decisive moment came on 31 minutes when Rio Cardines’ chip into the box from the left was met with a superb glancing header from Ballard on the penalty spot, the ball nestling just inside the far post. It was Cardlines’ sixth assist of the season.
Watford battled hard, but City had the better chances and deserved a win that took them up to fifth in the table ahead of tomorrow’s fixtures, just one point behind the leaders.
Between them, the two team bosses made 11 changes, seven of them by City boss Michael Skubala following Tuesday night’s home defeat at the hands of his former club Lincoln City, which saw centre-back Rob Dickie suffer a serious leg injury.
Both sides wore black arm-bands as a tribute to former Watford goalkeeper Kevin Miller, who died this week at the age of 57. The injury-hit visitors fielded a young line-up with an inexperienced bench.
Both sides had golden chances to take an early lead. Jason Knight headed wide for City from a Ballard cross and at the other end Luca Kjerrumgaard fired over for Watford when he should have tested goalkeeper Sam Tickle.
Watford keeper Federico Ravaglia had to deal with shots from Sam Greenwood and Yu Hirakawa in an entertaining opening 20 minutes.
City created another clear opening on 33 minutes, Joe Williams heading wide at the near post from a Cardines free kick.
Ballard’s goal gave the hosts a deserved advantage as Watford failed to force a single first half save from Tickle, but they began the second half brightly and Amin Nabizada had a low drive deflected wide by Atkinson after a strong run.
The game threatened to boil over on 54 minutes when City’s Jason Knight tangled with Branimir Mlacic and in the ensuing melee Williams went down after a shove from Edo Kayembe. All four players were shown yellow cards.
Both sides made changes on 64 minutes and one of City’s substitutes, Lorent Tolaj, on for Ballard, fired into the side-netting after breaking down the left.
Tolaj had a better chance on 81 minutes, put through down the centre of the pitch, but could only blast his shot high and wide as Ravaglia advanced to meet him. City continued to go close as Cardines shot just over from a free kick.
Tolaj had a late shot saved, while Watford saw a late penalty shout for a shirt-pull go unanswered and Tickle dealt with an injury time effort substitute Stephy Mavididi as a closely fought battle reached its conclusion.
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