Preview: Cardiff City vs. Watford - prediction, team news, lineups

Cardiff City play host to Watford in the Championship on Saturday afternoon looking to bounce back from what was a rare league defeat in midweek.

At a time when the Bluebirds now sit in eighth position in the standings, Watford are down in 21st spot courtesy of a three-match losing streak.

Match preview

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For the first time in several years, everyone associated with Cardiff appear to be united in their efforts to get the club back into the Premier League.

Already eight points clear of the relegation zone, the Bluebirds can target more than simply consolidation, promotion now the aim after a recent four-match winning streak.

Victories were posted against Swansea City, Coventry City, Sunderland and Rotherham United, but their run came to an end earlier this week.

Middlesbrough, who have effectively replaced Cardiff as one of the form teams in the second tier, prevailed by a 2-0 scoreline at the Riverside Stadium.

Cardiff's failure to score in the North East represented the first time that they have not netted in the Championship under Erol Bulut, also ending a streak of two consecutive clean sheets.

Many fans and critics alike may have been anticipating Watford making yet another managerial change on the back of the team's drop-off under Valerien Ismael.

However, despite winning just one of their last eight Championship games, the Pozzo Family responded by tying their manager down to a new contract, with Watford stating that there had been encouraging signs behind the scenes.

Nevertheless, a 2-0 reverse at Sunderland in midweek has made it three successive defeats, leaving Watford in 21st position ahead of what feels like an important fixture in South Wales.

The Hertfordshire-based outfit have lost three of their four away games this campaign, scoring just three times, and Ismael needs to instigate an upturn in fortunes to strengthen his position at the club, regardless of the contract that has recently been handed out.

Team News

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Although Aaron Ramsey remains sidelined for Cardiff, Bulut will almost certainly make changes to his starting lineup for this fixture.

Mahlon Romeo should return at right-back, with Ebou Adams in line to drop down to the substitutes' bench.

Ike Ugbo will also expect to return down the centre of the attack with Kion Etete having joined the Cardiff injury list.

With Ryan Andrews suspended after being sent off having been introduced as a substitute at Sunderland, Jeremy Ngakia should remain at right-back for Watford.

Ismael Kone and Yaser Asprilla can also expect recalls, most likely in place of Tom Dele-Bashiru and Tom Ince, while Mileta Rajovic may return down the middle of the attack.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Alnwick; Romeo, Goutas, McGuinness, Ng; Wintle, Siopis, Ralls; Tanner, Ugbo, Grant

Watford possible starting lineup:

Bachmann; Ngakia, Porteous, Hoedt, Lewis; Louza, Sierralta, Kone; Asprilla, Rajovic, Chakvetadze

We say: Cardiff City 2-1 Watford

With Cardiff having lost out at Middlesbrough, Watford will sense an opportunity to get back on track. Nevertheless, the Welsh side have been excellent at home this season and we cannot envisage Watford getting over the line, even if they do prove to be competitive.

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