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Kjerrumgaard slots Watford in front inside seven minutes at Ashton Gate Twine heads Bristol City level but Ngakia thumps in winner for visitors Watford climb to seventh in Championship, three points off play-offs Robins slip to ninth after fourth defeat in eight games League Two: Harrogate draw with Cheltenham in big game in bottom six Kate Holloway and Oliver Brindle Bristol City v Watford (20: 00 GMT) This video can not be played Watford's last trip to Ashton Gate was the stuff of nightmares. They entered the FA Cup clash with big expectations on their shoulders having been on an undefeated run of seven games. They exited with a humbling 5-1 loss and went on a winless streak of seven straight games, watching their then-manager Javi Gracia resign after hints he was unhappy with a lack of transfer activity. But now they are headed up by Ed Still, who finally got them the win they were so desperately looking for and against play-off contenders Derby County to boot. "We jus want to put them [City] under pressure, " Still told BBC Radio 3CR. "We want to make that game as difficult as possible. " Can the Hornets reap revenge to get their promotion dreams back on track? Or will they be brought back down to earth by the Robins with a dose of deja vu? Bristol City v Watford (20: 00 GMT) Sophie Hurcom BBC Sport at Ashton Gate For a team that has hopes of pushing on and reaching the top six again this season, to lose two players as big as Rob Dickie and Rob Atkinson from their backline likely for the rest of the campaign to injury in the space of a few days is a huge blow. Luke Mc Nally also remains on the sidelines as he recovers from a horrendous ACL rupture and is not expected back until at least the start of next season. Zak Vyner left for Wrexham in January, while young Jamie Knight-Lebel remains on loan at Swindon. It leaves Noah Eile, who only signed for the club a few weeks ago, as their only specialist centre-back. Eile looks to have slotted straight in and played the full 90 minutes of the past two games, despite not playing any football since September when the MLS season ended. Yet even head coach Gerhard Struber conceded this week the "spotlight" now falls on him - pressure he probably wasn't expecting so soon when he joined. The Robins weathered a similar injury crisis across their midfield earlier this season, with players slotting in out of their normal positions and they came out of the other side still in the mix. But with 11 games to go and teams around them to keep up with, there's no room for error at this stage. Bristol City v Watford (20: 00 GMT) A triple change for Bristol City from the side that beat Blackburn Rovers in the week. A hefty tackle on Rob Atkinson has left his ankle worse for wear meaning he joins fellow defender Rob Dickie in the recovery room for 10 weeks. With Luke Mc Nally also unlikely to be seen for the remainder of the season, only winter signing Noah Eile is fit in the centre-back position. Right-back Ross Mc Crorie returns from a three game absence with concussion to fill the gap while left-back Cam Pring moves to the bench. Sam Morsy is also available among the substitutes as Adam Randell makes up the XI. Bristol City v Watford (20: 00 GMT) This video can not be played The past two games have gone in Bristol City's favour. They snatched a 2-2 draw against Wrexham before getting the better of Hull City in a 3-2 victory. Neither result has got them in striking distance of the play-off places just yet - but could that be about to change? They will need to inflict some damage - as well as progress their own points tally - once again on a fellow play-off hopeful in Watford, as well as pick up a little luck with other results at the weekend. But fortune seems to be passing Ashton Gate by as of late. The side have lost defenders Rob Atkinson and Rob Dickie, as well as Luke Mc Nally, all to long-term injuries and are now facing a season run-in with a lightweight defence. Boss Gerhard Struber says the injuries offer a "big chance for other players" but will the side's shot at promotion suffer? The result here may help answer the question. Bristol City v Watford (20: 00 GMT) A home win for Bristol City will lift them just one point away from sixth-placed Wrexham and four off Hull City in fifth. But it'll be Watford who will feel they need to take all three points to keep their promotion dream alive. They are six adrift as things stand and could go nine by the end of the weekend if they lose tonight. Five things to look out for West Bromwich Albion try to recuperate their losses from a gamble gone wrong, while League One discover what's more valuable - being the best attackers or the best defenders. Read our five things to look out for this weekend in the EFL here. Harrogate v Cheltenham (19: 45 GMT) A quick glance at the League Two table will tell you Harrogate Town's season hasn't been one to remember - but right now, things are taking a turn. The Sulphurites are undefeated across their past four matches (W2 D2) and have got themselves to within a point of safety. But boss Simon Weaver isn't only interested in keeping his side in a positive state of mind, he's also got an eye on sending a message to the competition. Including tonight's visitors Cheltenham Town. "We are in the equivalent of a matchplay situation if you liken it to golf so you want to land psychological blows, " Weaver told BBC Radio York. "They [Cheltenham] will think they are out of it if they beat us probably. "We want to draw in as many competitors as possible and we want to send psychological blows to those in and around us. On Friday night we want to be driving home out of the bottom two. " Read more from Weaver here. Bristol City v Watford (20: 00 GMT) BBC Local Radio Unfortunately, we cannot bring your live radio coverage of tonight's match on the page due to rights restrictions. But that doesn't mean you'll miss out on what BBC Radio Bristol and BBC 3CR's commentaries have to offer, even if you're not in the area. We will have the best bits right here in text form so you won't miss a beat. Bristol City v Watford (20: 00 GMT) The Winter Olympics may have ended but there's still plenty of races to be had in the sporting world - and the one for the play-off positions in the Championship is heating up. Both Bristol City and Watford can keep themselves in contention with a victory at Ashton Gate, with the loser likely left off the pace. All the build-up coming your way. P. S. we will also have updates to bring you of Harrogate Town's efforts to break out the relegation zone of League Two as they host Cheltenham Town. Juicy, eh? The win was the second victory for Watford boss Ed Still since he took over Jeremy Ngakia's sublime second-half strike gave Watford victory at Championship play-off rivals Bristol City, who they leapfrogged in the table up to seventh. Luca Kjerrumgaard lifted the ball over Robins keeper Radek Vitek to put Watford 1-0 up after just seven minutes, while Saba Goglichidze also hit the post during the first half for the Hornets. But Scott Twine headed Bristol City level before the break, nodding in a lovely Adam Randell cross, and a point apiece looked to be on the cards. That was until Ngakia's shot from outside the box curled perfectly into the top corner, allowing Watford to close the gap to sixth-placed Wrexham to three points before the rest of the weekend's games. Bristol City, meanwhile, drop a place to ninth in the table as they failed to win for a third home game in a row. The Robins eased to a 5-1 win when these two sides met here in the FA Cup last month but their defence has taken a major hit in the past week with Rob Atkinson following Rob Dickie in being ruled out long-term - and Kjerrumgaard quickly found an early way through their reshuffled rearguard. Giorgi Chakvetadze shook off Mark Sykes down the wing and picked out Edo Kayembe in the box - he passed straight to the Dane who scooped the ball up and over Vitek at the near post. Bristol City immediately searched for an equaliser and Ross Mc Crorie's first-time volley forced a save out of Egil Selvik, while Jason Knight's calls for a penalty for handball were denied. But Watford almost doubled their lead when Neto Borges brought down Nestory Irankunda and Goglichidze's header from the resulting free-kick hit the post, with a grateful Vitek pouncing on the loose ball. It continued to be a lively first half as Tomi Horvat's shot from distance required a diving save from Selvik, while at the other end Irankunda almost made it 2-0 with a superb strike from range that curled just wide of the top corner. But Bristol City levelled 10 minutes before the break as Twine - usually a direct free-kick expert - somewhat uncharacteristically nodded in Randell's cross. Free-kick specialist Scott Twine scored with his head to make it 1-1 Chakvatadze was then twice the architect as Watford had the two best chances after the break to score again. He first linked up with Imran Louza, whose shot drifted past the post after a touch from Videk, before he found Irankunda, who could not quite direct his shot from a few yards out on target. Ngakia then fired Watford in front with a storming hit, having had time to set himself up outside the box, for his third goal of the campaign. Mc Crorie thrashed a decent opening well wide for the hosts before substitute Max Bird's on-target header was comfortably saved in added time as Watford withstood late pressure to take home all three points. Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber told BBC Radio Bristol: "I am really frustrated and we expected a different result in the end, and a big loss is really painful. "The control of the game was good, but some small details such as decision making. .. we were not lucky with the last decision that we did, and how to bring a player into a better position with a higher chance to score. "Then how we gave away the goals was really cheap and it is really hard to describe. It is all small things - typical Championship. "When you want to be in the play-off spots you have to win games in a row more and more times, and we must be honest with ourselves that this is a gap. "We have to be better and we have to improve, how we bring a clean sheet home and how we score on a different level. " This video can not be played Struber: "A big loss, it's really painful" Watford head coach Ed Still told BBC Three Counties Radio: "The most important beyond anything else this evening was the energy the players could find and the heart they could put into it. Everybody saw the commitment that has gone into that performance. "We forced a little bit of luck - when you create a wonder goal like that it doesn't just fall from the sky and we've got a bit lucky at the end as well, they've had a couple of chances where on another day that could be a draw. "We're not getting ahead of ourselves but it does feel special. "I'm so pleased and proud of the dressing room and for the team because they're coming together and they are starting to believe in each other and hopefully the fans can feel that and feed off that. " After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 27th February 2026 at 21: 53 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Gerhard Struber Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 Manager: Edward Still Formation: 4 - 4 - 2 Manager: Gerhard Struber Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 Manager: Edward Still Formation: 4 - 4 - 2 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Bristol City are unbeaten in their last five home league games against Watford (W2 D3) since a 2-0 loss in March 2012. In their league history, Watford have only drawn more games against Bournemouth (36) and Brighton (33) than they have against Bristol City (32), with this season’s reverse fixture finishing 1-1. Bristol City have lost 5-0 against Derby and drawn 2-2 with Wrexham in their last two home league games, conceding as many goals in these two games as in their previous 10 at Ashton Gate (7). Watford have lost just one of their last seven away league games (W2 D4), going down 1-0 at Southampton earlier this month. This will be Bristol City’s fifth Friday game in the Championship this season (W1 D2 L1), with only West Bromwich Albion playing more on a Friday this term (6). Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.