Cardiff City VS Watford Match Prediction
2019-02-22
19:45:00
Cardiff City
VS
Watford
Our Prediction Tip
Draw will win this match.
2019-02-2219:45:00 Draw will win this match.
Having not met since Watford’s Premier League promotion at the end of the 2014/15 season, the Hornets beat Cardiff in this season’s reverse fixture. Their first ever top-flight meeting saw Gerard Deulofeu, Jose Holebas and Domingos Quina fire the hosts into a 3-0 lead at Vicarage Road but late goals from Junior Hoilett and Bobby Reid almost sparked a comeback – Watford eventually winning 3-2. Overall, they have won 20 of their 56 previous matches, with 14 draws and 22 Cardiff wins.
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Both teams come into this match in good form, with Cardiff winning two from two to climb out of the relegation places while Watford have lost just once in 2019.
The Hornets’ defensive solidity has been key to that – keeping clean sheets in each of their last three games – and that could be where Cardiff struggle.
While they shared five goals when they last met, at Vicarage Road, Cardiff’s goalscoring has been their big problem – though Bobby Reid’s double against Bournemouth was a big positive.
If they fail to break Watford’s in-form and stubborn defence, however, this could well be heading for a low-scoring affair. Since a high-scoring draw with Bournemouth at the start of the year, only two of Watford’s subsequent matches have had more than 2.5 goals.
Jose Holebas will be missed in that Watford defence, however, and the creativity he offers at the other end of the pitch will also be lost during his two-game ban.
Cardiff’s own form suggests they can get something out of this match, and a draw may therefore be a decent result for both teams to continue their unbeaten runs.
Watford are favourites for this game at 7/5 to win with Betfair thanks to their impressive recent form, while Cardiff are 43/20 with 888sport. Cardiff’s resurgent form should not be discounted, however. The draw is a best price of 12/5 with Betway.
Watford have impressed defensively with five clean sheets in their last six matches. Under 2.5 goals will return 4/5 with Bet365 an Ladbrokes.
A Watford clean sheet, meanwhile, has been priced at 2/1 with Ladbrokes and you can bet against both teams to score at evens.
If Watford do break through, Andre Gray scored in the wins against Newcastle and Everton and he is 2/1 with Bet365 and 10Bet.
Both sides have hit resurgent form, with Watford impressing defensively. The two teams could cancel each other out.
Sean Morrison remains out injured until the start of next month, but Cardiff’s injury list has eased. Kenneth Zohore stepped off the bench to score the winner last time out, but he could remain on the substitutes bench for the game against Watford too.
Bobby Reid – Scored in the defeat at Vicarage Road earlier in the season and scored twice as Cardiff back to winning ways against Bournemouth.
Neil Etheridge – Without his superb goalkeeping this season, there is no question Cardiff would be much worse off than they are.
Sol Bamba – Another goal last weekend and a key part of Cardiff’s defensive unit too, with power and height at the back.
Cardiff have won both matches they have played in February having previously gone without a win in January. They lost 2-1 at Arsenal to continue a winless January but beat Bournemouth 2-0 thanks to Bobby Reid’s double at the start of this month. Last time out, Sol Bamba gave the Bluebirds the lead at Southampton but it looked as though they would have to settle for a point after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser. Cardiff hit back, however – Kenneth Zohore scoring two minutes later to seal victory.
Jose Holebas will miss the next two matches after picking up his tenth yellow card of the season at home to Everton. Adam Masina is his usual replacement at left-back. Sebastian Prodl (knee), Kiko Femenia (thigh) and Roberto Pereyra (thigh) are all pushing for a return from injury, however – with Prodl and Pereyra the more likely to feature. After his long absence, Prodl will probably be on the bench but Pereyra could return on the wing. Isaac Success is out with a thigh injury.
Andre Gray – Scored in the FA Cup at Newcastle and also netted the winner at home to Everton to move to five goals for the season.
Gerard Deulofeu – A goalscorer in Watford’s 3-2 win when these teams last met – he has three goals and three assists this season.
Roberto Pereyra – His return will be a big boost having been a major part of Watford’s success on the wing this season.
Watford have lost just once in 2019, suffering a late defeat at Wembley against Tottenham at the end of last month. A goalless draw with Brighton & Hove Albion followed but they have won back-to-back matches 1-0 since – beating Everton at home thanks to Andre Gray’s winner before Etienne Capoue’s goal earned FA Cup victory at QPR.
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