Discuss today's game between Watford and Bristol City before, during and after the match.
5:00pm Tuesday 29th January 2013 in Latest Sport
Discuss the action as Watford travel to Bristol City
The Watford Observer is hoping fans will enjoy interacting pre-match, during the game and after the final whistle has blown on our website.
Twitter users can contribute just by adding the #WatfordFC hashtag and for those of you not on the social networking site, you can still read the comments here and add your own views in the Observer's comment section below.
If you have any questions for our reporter about the match or other Watford- related matters then you can contact him via Twitter by tweeting @Observer_Owl.
Key points
Watford’s seven-match unbeaten run came to a disappointing end as a much-changed Hornets side slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Bristol City.
Gianfranco Zola’s decision to make six changes seemingly backfired at Ashton Gate as Watford lacked a cutting edge and were deservedly beaten by the Championship’s bottom club.
A mistake by Manuel Almunia resulted in Greg Cunningham’s cross finding the top corner in the first half and Bristol added another from Paul Anderson in the second period.
Bristol City line-up:
Heaton; Moloney, Carey, Fontaine, Cunningham (Nyatanga 90); Anderson, Kelly, Skuse (Elliott 28), Pearson; Baldock, Davies (Stead 73).
Subs: Gerken, Foster, Wilson, Burns.
Watford line-up:
Watford: Almunia; Nosworthy, Hall, Ekstrand; Murray (Deeney 61), Eustace (Chalobah 74), Hogg, Abdi, Pudil; Forestieri, Geijo (Forestieri 61).
Subs: Bond, Yeates, Cassetti, Battocchio.
Referee:
Carl Berry.
Attendance:
13,585 (1,079).
Latest from the Vic and all things Watford
This Is Local London has no responsibility or control over the content on external blogging sites, but you can contact us if you have a complaint.
Comments(44)
Poppet Bear
says...
7:13pm Tue 29 Jan 13
JohnnyHornet
says...
7:16pm Tue 29 Jan 13
jasonwatford
says...
7:28pm Tue 29 Jan 13
grahamwfc
says...
7:31pm Tue 29 Jan 13
I fear another Charlton - hope I'm wrong
Stoney77
says...
7:35pm Tue 29 Jan 13
lincoln horn
says...
7:36pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Boosey
says...
7:39pm Tue 29 Jan 13
a1derek
says...
7:40pm Tue 29 Jan 13
AngelHornet
says...
7:46pm Tue 29 Jan 13
stevyweavy
says...
8:16pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Boosey
says...
8:23pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Boosey wrote:I might have been right if the team wasn't changed so much!
One nil to the Horns after 3 mins!
Apparently Geijo just missed 1 on 1.
francowatford
says...
8:35pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Bush Hornet
says...
8:42pm Tue 29 Jan 13
goldanboy
says...
8:46pm Tue 29 Jan 13
AngelHornet
says...
8:51pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Needs to bring on one of the game changing players for the second half
stevyweavy
says...
9:07pm Tue 29 Jan 13
francowatford
says...
9:15pm Tue 29 Jan 13
stevyweavy
says...
9:20pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Bush Hornet
says...
9:21pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Bush Hornet wrote:Ok .. A game of 2 cr@p halves. Not good. But could've worked
Don't panic kids. Nothing's lost yet. Game of 2 halfs and all that
sussex hornet
says...
9:26pm Tue 29 Jan 13
francowatford
says...
9:34pm Tue 29 Jan 13
DuffmanWFC
says...
9:35pm Tue 29 Jan 13
I can't understand six changes? It has tampered with the flow of the side!
I thought Zola would have learnt his lesson? Why not start with the same side and change it with 30 mins to play! This game is lost now!
francowatford
says...
9:36pm Tue 29 Jan 13
stevyweavy wrote:agree. megapissed off
Treat teams with total disrespect and this is what happens. Would have been such a boost to be into an automatic promotion place but not looking likely now at 2-0
francowatford
says...
9:38pm Tue 29 Jan 13
DuffmanWFC wrote:agree
Well this is turning into a disaster! Tonight was a chance to go second and put some pressure on the other sides! I can't understand six changes? It has tampered with the flow of the side! I thought Zola would have learnt his lesson? Why not start with the same side and change it with 30 mins to play! This game is lost now!
Boosey
says...
9:47pm Tue 29 Jan 13
jasonwatford
says...
9:50pm Tue 29 Jan 13
DuffmanWFC
says...
9:51pm Tue 29 Jan 13
If a player gets injured or is tired you then swap him and maybe one or two miss the next game! Not as if we have a wafer thin squad?
Best strike force in championship is on the bench and no real chances on goal! Gutted is an understatement!
Forget a potential Bassini points deduction spoiling our season... At this rate Zola's chopping n changing is loosing us valuable points!
I may be harsh but Bristol City are a poor team and I'm certain if we started full strength and gone two up they would of collapsed! We could of changed it then!
gloryhornet4
says...
9:51pm Tue 29 Jan 13
francowatford wrote:Spot on. 3-0 up at Forest and MV & TD stay on the pitch.
DuffmanWFC wrote:agree
Well this is turning into a disaster! Tonight was a chance to go second and put some pressure on the other sides! I can't understand six changes? It has tampered with the flow of the side! I thought Zola would have learnt his lesson? Why not start with the same side and change it with 30 mins to play! This game is lost now!
You cannot afford to put your League Cup side out for Championship games. You can beat Wycombe with it if you go in to extra time.
Better to let the big guns have the first half and have a kip on the coach 2nd half.
I could not believe hoping being 2-0 down of catching BC on the break.
allgood
says...
9:54pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Did Zola play under the Tinkerman at Chelsea?
6 points given away tonight and home to Charlton could be the difference between automatic promotion and the play off lottery.
weeblehorn
says...
9:56pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Hornets number 12 fan
says...
10:08pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Poppet Bear
says...
10:09pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Boosey
says...
10:15pm Tue 29 Jan 13
onlyonerodthomas
says...
10:17pm Tue 29 Jan 13
! why? why? why?.its not as if we played loads of games and players needed resting.you start with your strongest team,get a good lead,then do your subs and let the second string play and see ther game out.these two games could mean the difference between promotion and champ football come the end of the season.and dont post back saying ah well roll on sat for the bolton game,3 points and all that.nearly 1100 fans made the difficult trip tonight and i am glad i didnt go.we are not utd,chelsea or arsenal,yes we have a big squad but you cant tinker in this league.
Boosey
says...
10:20pm Tue 29 Jan 13
onlyonerodthomas wrote:I was going to write something like that but couldn't be bothered. Arrogant Watford, please do not repeat wholesale changes again. Still fuming!
so annoyed!.why make 6 changes?.sean odriscoll couldnt believe his luck when he saw the team sheet after seeing his forest team lose last month at the vic.thats six points now from charlton and bristol city,(who until tonight had conceded 34 goals at home in 14 games!!!).ahhhhhhgh! ! why? why? why?.its not as if we played loads of games and players needed resting.you start with your strongest team,get a good lead,then do your subs and let the second string play and see ther game out.these two games could mean the difference between promotion and champ football come the end of the season.and dont post back saying ah well roll on sat for the bolton game,3 points and all that.nearly 1100 fans made the difficult trip tonight and i am glad i didnt go.we are not utd,chelsea or arsenal,yes we have a big squad but you cant tinker in this league.
a1derek
says...
10:20pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Playing Hogg, Eustace and Murray in midfield just didn't look on and so it proved. How can Battocchio be in need of a rest?
This team selection shows disrespect to the fans that travelled and probably motivated the opposition as well. It was pure folly - arrogance I think not, just folly.
We have lost momentum, probably 1,500 from the gate on saturday and worst of all a massive chance to put huge pressure on Leicester and Hull. Instead we have put pressure back on ourselves.
Very, very poor management by GFZ today. Very poor indeed, it has cost as an awful lot tonight - it may cost us much. much more in the final shake up.
Bringe
says...
10:21pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Now you can bet even the good sides will mirror O'driscolls home tactics and they will be much better on the break than Bristol. Our season has just got a lot harder.
onlyonerodthomas
says...
10:29pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Bringe wrote:i was listening to the game on 3cr and basically pinging balls into the box was what we were doing most of the second half,unfortunately the wind kept blowing them out for goal kicks!!!.so frustrated is an understatement.abdi to me seemed the only creative player supported by two "david batty" style players in hogg and eustace playing either side.we needed the youth in chalobah and battochio tonight to unlock the bristol city players.poor selection tonight.eustace is not match fit and hogg is just coming back from injury.
Forestieri and Geijo was the right choice against the parked bus but we were too narrow and would have been better off pinging in low and hard balls into the crowded box from the sides and feeding off any resulting corners, free kicks, seconds and who knows, maybe own goals.
Now you can bet even the good sides will mirror O'driscolls home tactics and they will be much better on the break than Bristol. Our season has just got a lot harder.
Boosey
says...
10:29pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Bringe wrote:Sorry no one can justify that many changes unless taking injuries into account.
Forestieri and Geijo was the right choice against the parked bus but we were too narrow and would have been better off pinging in low and hard balls into the crowded box from the sides and feeding off any resulting corners, free kicks, seconds and who knows, maybe own goals. Now you can bet even the good sides will mirror O'driscolls home tactics and they will be much better on the break than Bristol. Our season has just got a lot harder.
Apparently no shots on target in first half? No matter what they parked in front of the goal we should have least had a go.
Bringe
says...
10:36pm Tue 29 Jan 13
onlyonerodthomas wrote:pinging is not floating balls in on the wind but smashing knee high balls in at pace ... then you get a pinball effect and anything can happen.
Bringe wrote:i was listening to the game on 3cr and basically pinging balls into the box was what we were doing most of the second half,unfortunately the wind kept blowing them out for goal kicks!!!.so frustrated is an understatement.abdi to me seemed the only creative player supported by two "david batty" style players in hogg and eustace playing either side.we needed the youth in chalobah and battochio tonight to unlock the bristol city players.poor selection tonight.eustace is not match fit and hogg is just coming back from injury.
Forestieri and Geijo was the right choice against the parked bus but we were too narrow and would have been better off pinging in low and hard balls into the crowded box from the sides and feeding off any resulting corners, free kicks, seconds and who knows, maybe own goals.
Now you can bet even the good sides will mirror O'driscolls home tactics and they will be much better on the break than Bristol. Our season has just got a lot harder.
Boosey
says...
10:39pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Proud to be Watford.
Anyone else want to calm down with me?
Vet_kills_puppy
says...
11:02pm Tue 29 Jan 13
I want to read on the Official Site tomorrow that GFZ realises that he has now fcuked up twice by making wholesale changes to a winning side etc.
The psychology of 2nd place would have far out-weighed the psychology of the supposed need for squad rotation.
Had we been 2nd those in the wings would have fought that much harder or had to fight that much harder for a run-out. When they came on as a sub it would have been their chance to make sure their name HAD to be first on the teamsheet.
And as for the psychology of saying to your in-form front two 'chomping at the bit' strikers "I'm starting with you both on the bench tonight"... Pathetic, 4th or not.
Boosey
says...
11:09pm Tue 29 Jan 13
Vet_kills_puppy wrote:Must admit you wrote a top comment and I was fuming so much I couldn't be bothered to post but calmed down now.
Sorry but 'No' Boosey. I want to read on the Official Site tomorrow that GFZ realises that he has now fcuked up twice by making wholesale changes to a winning side etc. The psychology of 2nd place would have far out-weighed the psychology of the supposed need for squad rotation. Had we been 2nd those in the wings would have fought that much harder or had to fight that much harder for a run-out. When they came on as a sub it would have been their chance to make sure their name HAD to be first on the teamsheet. And as for the psychology of saying to your in-form front two 'chomping at the bit' strikers "I'm starting with you both on the bench tonight"... Pathetic, 4th or not.
Yes, I believe an apology from Zola would be nice.
Wotfud says...
7:13pm Tue 29 Jan 13