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

Bristol City will be hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive when they travel to Watford in the Championship on Saturday.

The Robins have fallen to 10th following three successive defeats, while the Hornets moved up to fourth in midweek despite not playing a game.

Match preview

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Watford's progress up the table came as a result of Reading's defeat to Brentford, with Xisco Munoz's side now seven points behind the top two and eight points clear of seventh-placed Middlesbrough.

The Hornets have lost just one of their last six matches and drew 0-0 away to Coventry City last weekend.

The stalemate brought their 13th clean sheet of the season, while only Swansea City (15) have conceded fewer goals in the Championship than Watford (20).

No team in the division has won more games (10) or picked up more points (32) at home than the Hertfordshire side, whose 2-1 defeat at Vicarage Road to Queens Park Rangers at the start of February was only their second home loss of the season.

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Watford's record in their own ground is not good news for Bristol City, who have lost their last six league games on the road and were beaten 1-0 away at Sheffield United in the FA Cup on Wednesday night.

The loss to the Blades followed a 2-0 defeat to Cardiff City in the Championship last weekend, which made it just three wins in the Robins' last 11 league matches.

The pressure is beginning to grow on Dean Holden, with Bristol City now six points behind the playoffs, and after the trip to Watford, they face another top-six side on Tuesday in the shape of Reading.

The reverse fixture at Ashton Gate in November finished 0-0, which is not too surprising given that Bristol City (29) and Watford (31) are the two lowest-scoring teams in the top half of the Championship.

Watford Championship form: WWWDLD

Bristol City Championship form: WLWLLL Bristol City form (all competitions): WWLLLL

Team News

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Watford are confident that Kiko Femenia will be available again, with the right-back having missed the last two games with a knock.

January signing Dan Gosling is in contention to make his debut after building his fitness in the last fortnight since his move from Bournemouth.

Will Hughes could come into the Hornets side in a central midfield position, pushing Troy Deeney up to the centre forward spot, where Andre Gray has underwhelmed in recent weeks.

Alfie Mawson will serve a one-match suspension for Bristol City following his red card against Sheffield United in midweek.

Dan Bentley and Henri Lansbury should return to the starting lineup after being rested against the Blades.

Holden handed a debut to 18-year-old Ryley Towler at left-back in the cup, and the youngster could keep his spot in the starting XI.

Watford possible starting lineup: Bachmann; Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Sierralta, Masina; Chalobah, Cleverley; Sarr, Hughes, Sema; Deeney

Bristol City possible starting lineup: Bentley; Hunt, Kalas, Moore, Towler; Lansbury, Vyner, Massengo; Wells, Diedhiou, Semenyo

We say: Watford 1-0 Bristol City

These two teams have struggled in recent weeks, and it could be a close and nervous game as both are low on confidence; we are backing Watford to earn a narrow victory, though, due to their excellent home record and the quality they can show if they click into gear.