Jerseybean

Player ratings: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-player-ratings-watford-8355493?utm_source=bristol_live_newsletter&utm_campaign=bcfc_newsletter2&utm_medium=email

NP’s thoughts: https://youtu.be/ozXSQba_EeA

Immediate thoughts, they created very little and scored twice (both sloppy goals to concede,) we created a number of decent chances but couldn’t score. We’ve played worse and won this season. We looked a well balanced side and overall it was a decent City performance. Scott shone from the bench and Bell looked a threat, Wells worked his socks off. Funny old game isn’t it? Watford get three points in a game which we’ve largely controlled. In the end it’s always goals, even sloppy ones, that win games.

Unusual half in some ways, in that we’ve had 64% of the ball, looked neat and tidy on the ball, Sam Bell has been our main threat. Watford are looking more like us e.g. looking to hit us on the break. Unfortunate to be behind, on the balance of play in the first half we can certainly get something out of this. Sort of game Scott can influence.

Unless the ref gets a grip or the players calm down I can see a red card appearing in the second half

Top rated all you can eat places: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/bristols-most-popular-you-can-8345313?utm_source=bristol_live_newsletter&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter2&utm_medium=email

Hertfordshire here we come for first league trip in front of supporters there since 2012. Pay on the day will not be available. We have sold out a full allocation of 1,996 tickets for the Vicarage Road clash. Please note that Watford operate a turnstile entry system via QR code tickets so supporters are advised that the QR code on the tickets must not be marked or tampered with in any way as this may affect entry into the stadium. They are three points better off than us and in 12th place in the table. In November it finished 0-0 at Ashton Gate On 26 September 2022, Slaven Bilić became their manager on an 18-month contract. Along with his native Croatian, Bilić is fluent in German, Italian and English, while he also holds a degree in law. As a big fan of rock music, he plays rhythm guitar with his favoured red Gibson Explorer and is a member of Rawbau, a Croatian rock band. In early March they sacked head coach Slaven Bilic after just over five months in charge of the Championship club. The 54-year-old replaced Rob Edwards, who himself only lasted 11 games at Vicarage Road, in September. Watford had won just one of their past eight matches prior to the decision and were four points outside the play-offs. SB was replaced by Chris Wilder who signed a contract until the end of the season. Recent rumours about his future were refuted by the club: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65252438 Their next manager will be their 22nd in 22 years (not counting caretaker bosses). Longest tenure in that time was Zola with 75 games. Their forum already has a thread entitled ‘first manager next season’ https://wfcforums.com/index.php?threads/first-manager-next-season.60176/ Since we last played them they have signed midfielders Matheus Martins and Leandro Bacuna. On deadline day they signed striker Britt Assombalonga on a six-month contract, with an option for a further year. The 30-year-old returned to English football following a year and a half in Turkey with Adana Demirspor. Tom Dele-Bashiru is out for the rest of the season because of an ankle injury. Fellow midfielder Edo Kayembe is also out for the same period with a calf strain. Their goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann was sent off deep into stoppage time against Huddersfield after picking up two yellow cards in the space of a minute so will be missing, see photo for his second yellow! Look out for the Vicarage Roadies who are there to meet and greet supporters coming to Watford Football Club on match days. They are a team of volunteer Watford fans who aim to enhance the supporter experience by offering advice and support to all visitors to Vicarage Road. Most of the Roadies have been Hornets for years, the one thing they all have in common is their desire to go that extra mile and give all supporters the best possible match-day experience. Head to head we have won 37, lost 30 and drawn 31. In the last six games they have lost three, drawn two and won one. In common with us on Monday they drew 2-2 (away at Coventry) having been two up. Watford were relegated after just one season in the top flight finishing the 21/22 season in 19th place on 23 points, having managed six wins and five draws. They also set an unwanted club record of only managing four clean sheets all season. NP had a spell at the helm (2019/20) for Watford and can point at a decent win 35% win record. He had this to say ahead of the game: Dean Whitestone will referee the game, Whitestone has officiated in only one previous Hornets game this season, the goalless draw against Hull City in December. The Northamptonshire official has been in the middle for 30 league and cup fixtures in the 2022/23 campaign, showing a total of 88 yellow cards and three reds. Daniel Leach and Rob Smith will be the assistant referees, with Carl Brook the fourth official. AW pre-match: Watford guide: https://www.watfordfc.com/news/supporter-information-watford-v-bristol-city With thanks to Jack Phillips here is his guide for information on tickets, parking, pubs and food for Watford: Tickets: Tickets are nearly sold out for this weekend, pricing is as follows: Adults: £30 Senior 65+: £18 18 and under: £5 Coach travel has sold out for this fixture. Parking: Street parking, I'm told, is restricted to residents only, however it's always worth a shot. Here are some paid match day car parks: Field Junior School: Run in partnership with Watford FC, you can book a space by clicking here. £10 WD18 0AZ, 7-10 minute walk from Vicarage Road. Watford Grammar School: Five minute walk from Vicarage Road. £12 WD18 0AE Chater Junior School: Cheaper option at £5. 10 minute walk from Vicarage Road. WD18 0WN Pubs (see below too) The Oddfellows: *POTENTIALLY CLOSED* WD18 0RD Just round the corner from Vicarage Road, approximately a three minute walk. The Moon Under Water: A Wetherspoons WD17 2BS 11 minute walk from Vicarage Road. 15 minute walk, in the right direction, from Watford Junction train station. Food: Watford Atria is a 10 minute walk from Vicarage Road, and hosts: Burger King, Costa, Starbucks and Tortilla, with a McDonald's and Taco Bell nearby. Postcode for Watford Atria: WD17 2UB. Watford waffle The only Englishman to ever become pope, Pope Adrian IV, was born Nicholas Breakspear in Abbots Langley in 1100. Watford has made huge contributions to the printing industry. Rotary photogravure was a technique which was first used in Watford to reproduce very fine, high quality fine art prints and then it went on to be used to produce colour magazines. All the ladies’ colour magazines, like Woman’s Weekly and Woman’s Own, were all printed in Watford, as well as most of the colour supplements for the Sunday newspapers. Melanie C aka Sporty Spice lived in Watford for a spell. Vinnie Jones was born in Watford. England manager Gareth Southgate was also born in Watford. Watford FC played in blue and white until 1959 where it then changed to gold/yellow shirts and black shorts. Ovaltine is manufactured in a factory in Kings Langley, it was the official drink of the 1948 Olympics. It was also carried up Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. Pubs, Indian restaurants and chip shops The Oddfellows, 14 Fearnley Street, Watford, WD18 0RD, https://www.facebook.com/OddfellowsWatford Unsurprisingly, the closest pub to Vicarage Road is the most popular on match days; 'Oddfellows' on Fearnley Street can get very busy as it offers decent priced drinks, a beer garden as well as a barbecue in the summer. Maybe closed. The pubs on the High Street lack the atmosphere of other Watford fan pubs but are well worth checking out. The Moon Under Water, 44 High Street, Watford, WD17 2BS (Spoons) is extremely popular so be sure to get there early otherwise you may have to wait a while to get served. The Moon Under Water welcomes well behaved home and away fans. Watford’s exclusive away fans pub is Macs Bar, around a five minute walk to the stadium, 14 Fearnley St, Watford, WD18 0RD. Slug and Lettuce, 66-68 The Parade, Watford, WD17 1AH offer a decent bottomless brunch. Indian restaurants If you want a good Indian restaurant try one of these: https://threebestrated.co.uk/indian-restaurants-in-watford Indian Sizzler, 97-99 Longspring, Watford WD24 6PU Spice Lounge, 36 Market Street, Watford WD18 0PY Rabbani’s, 167-169 The Parade, Watford WD17 1NJ Saffron House, 113 Courtlands Drive, WD17 4HZ Watford, https://saffronwatford.com Raj Garden 217- 219 Park Avenue, Bushey, Hertfordshire WD23 2DQ https://rajgardenbushey.co.uk Best chip shops Codland fish and chips, 117 Courtlands Drive, Watford WD17 4HZ. Viking fish and chips, 3 Bushey Mill Lane, Watford, WD24 7QT. Ocean World fish and chips, 209C Queens Road, Watford, WD17 2QH. https://threebestrated.co.uk/fish-and-chips-in-watford Wishing the traveling fans a great day out and wherever you are supporting the Robins from enjoy the game and let’s put in a performance to be proud of, COYR!

Best curry houses……https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/bristols-best-curry-houses-takeaway-8342220?fbclid=IwAR2Q_gUws6m0ZM_SqMN-80DmQF-wegzzUvQNeh7sc_xcutWRlYwwx42ySyg

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/end-era-bristol-rovers-hero-8343834?utm_source=bristol_live_newsletter&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter2&utm_medium=email

As per the title: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/city-shortlisted-in-four-efl-awards/

Player ratings https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-player-ratings-middlesbrough-8339250

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65239073

As per the title: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65235729

https://www.bristolworld.com/sport/football/bristol-city/liverpool-join-west-ham-wolves-in-transfer-battle-for-ps25m-bristol-city-star-4098897

NP post match https://youtu.be/YUsVvnUfF3I

Their MDT is at 34 pages! Some of their fans were impressed by Vyner others made their keeper MotM. This post stood out for me: ‘Still a crap result, pretty much bossed by a team full of school kids who made a lot of our players look average’.

https://twitter.com/BristolCity/status/1645481006420328449?s=20

Agreed, disappointing to only get a point having been two up, but a decent City performance and still not sure how Zak’s chance didn’t end up in the net.

Two opportunities to clear the ball from a dangerous position neither taken = 2-2

Opens his City account ?

Your beauty! Poor defending punished by HC with an assist from NW

First half reflections. An even and open half played under windy conditions that’s good to watch. Akpom and Andi both should have scored, before Bell did so on the cusp of half time. We’ve looked organised, been hard working and so far it’s been a solid team performance. Jay and Harry have stood out for me, with Sam finding good positions and space out wide.