Cardiff City host Watford with the final stretch in sight

Cardiff City look to make it twelve unbeaten under Mick McCarthy as they take on an in-form Watford side looking for promotion.

This is an important game for both sides as they have their own ambitions as we approach the final run of games in the Sky Bet Championship. Mick McCarthy’s Bluebirds are yet to lose under his management and will be looking to carry on this good run of form to push for a play-off berth.

For Watford, Xisco Munoz’ side have won six of their last seven games in the league and are currently sat in 2nd, above promotion rivals Swansea City on goal difference. The Hornets will be vying for an automatic promotion place instead of having to go through the trials and tribulations of the play-offs.

Team news

Cardiff City should have defender Perry Ng back in contention for a place in the starting XI but will be without creative midfielder Lee Tomlin.

Jordi Osei-Tutu is also still missing for McCarthy’s side as he is still recovering from a hamstring injury he picked up five months ago.

Watford are likely to still be without goalkeeper Ben Foster as he misses out through injury as do Tom Cleverley and Dan Gosling.

Captain Troy Deeney will also be missing after picking up an Achilles injury a few weeks back.

Mick McCarthy:

McCarthy is relishing the challenge that Watford possess and is aware of the danger with the quality of personnel.

“They are second in the table, playing well, and have the ability to grind out one-nillers as they don’t give much away. Yet they’ve got some flair players too.” McCarthy told the club website.

“So, if we can win this game, that would put us in a great position and give us a whole lot more confidence if we beat second in the league – but there’s a lot of ifs there!”

Xisco Munoz:

Watford manager Xisco has hinted that his team need to be up for the challenge and fight that Cardiff have within their ranks when they travel to South Wales on Saturday.

“We know we need to go there like gladiators, play very hard and give our best, with power, intensity and ambition,” said Muñoz to the club website.

“We know what we need, it’s not easy the numbers they have. It’s excellent work from their coach, we have big respect for him. It’s important everybody knows this next game is an amazing challenge for us because we want to break this situation for them.

“Our team now has more time on the ball, creates more chances to score. We know we need to stay alert and pay attention with set pieces and we need to give them more problems. We have our style and our players and we’re hungry every game to take the points.”

Head-to-head

These two sides have met a fair amount in recent times but neither team has seemed to dominate with Watford having three wins in the last five meetings and Cardiff having two wins.

Draws are few and far between for these two with the last of them occurring in 2013, a 0-0 stalemate.

These two sides met earlier in the season at Vicarage Road where the Bluebirds ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a Kieffer Moore goal, Cardiff at the time still managed by Neil Harris.

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