Article body analysed
Bola puts hosts ahead early on Twine free-kick draws Bristol City level Watford inch up to 11th in Championship, Bristol City stay seventh Glenn Speller and Deepak Mahay Watford v Bristol City (20: 00 GMT) This is new territory for Bristol City under boss Gerhard Struber. A promising start to the season threatened to go off the rails before a run of three successive wins, but back-to-back defeats and an injury list almost as long as mine for Father Christmas is a cause for concern. However, Robins' joint-top scorer Anis Mehmeti says they cannot feel sorry for themselves. "We need to show character now because that's back-to-back losses - we started the season so well and we need players to step up, whether that's defenders, midfielders, attackers to go and produce, " he told BBC Radio Bristol. "I'd say our energy has been flat, in all aspects, our pressing, our counter-pressing, our ball moments, our final-third entry play. "It's nowhere near good enough for a team like us, we've got real quality but we need players to step up, it's all good saying it in the changing room but we've got the responsibility to put it right on Friday. " A third game in six days looks far from ideal for a battered and bruised side but with another international break to come after tonight maybe they have enough in the tank for one big effort? Watford v Bristol City (20: 00 GMT) There are many values needed for the role of captaincy but unless you can back it up with actions they are all rather worthless. Enter Watford skipper Imran Louza whose four goals in successive games have helped to push the Hornets within reach of the play-off spots. For the record it's the best run of scoring from a Watford player since Troy Deeney scored in six matches in a row back in 2015. "I feel very confident - I have come a long with my injuries and to help the team is the best for me, " Louza recently told BBC Three Counties radio. The Moroccan will be one player Bristol City will have to track tonight if they're to come away from Vicarage Road with anything. Watford v Bristol City (20: 00 GMT) There's plenty at stake for these two sides tonight. They can either force themselves well and truly into contention before the international break or give the chasing pack a chance to take advantage. So, do Watford and Bristol City fans believe they have what it takes to challenge for promotion or is mid-table the best they can hope for? Use the lovely shiny 'Get Involved' button at the top of the page to give us your views. Watford v Bristol City (20: 00 GMT) This video can not be played Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber previews Friday's trip to Watford. Sitting in seventh place and with a chance to go fourth tonight, there isn't obviously anything seriously wrong with Bristol City. Only they are suffering a wobble and, for the first time this season, have lost back-to-back league games. Mind you, before the past two setbacks, the Robins had won three in a row - swings and roundabouts? "We have to be very close together on Friday and do the best we possibly can, " boss Gerhard Struber told BBC Radio Bristol. "It would be a top performance from this group of players if we win again because it will be four wins in six games but we have to do it. "We know Watford are a good team and they have good momentum at the moment so we have to be on a really good level to pick up points. " Watford v Bristol City (20: 00 GMT) Just like death and taxes you can always be certain of a Watford managerial change and the latest one appears to be paying dividends. Javi Gracia's return to replace the perhaps slightly unfortunate Paulo Pezzolano in early October was a popular move by the often unpopular Hornets owners. Watford had taken seven points from a possible nine just before the change of head coach, they've managed the same number from 15 since. But Vicarage Road is proving to be a tough nut to crack for visiting sides - only Coventry and Preston (17) have taken more than the Hertfordshire side's 16 points at home so far this season. It's a quick turnaround from a draw at Ipswich on Tuesday to tonight's game but Gracia isn't complaining. "I don't mind if we play at night, the middle of the day, the evening or the morning - I am only focused on the game and doing a good job, " he told BBC Three Counties Radio. With his side going for a fifth successive home win he'd probably play at 0300 if he was asked. Watford v Bristol City (20: 00 GMT) Watford make six changes to the side which started Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Ipswich. Kwadwo Baah, James Abankwah, Jeremy Ngakia, Tom Ince and Vivaldo Semedo are on the bench but Hector Kyprianou is out with an ankle injury. Into the team come Nestory Irankunda, Max Alleyne, Kevin Keben, Jeremy Petris, Edo Kayembe and Luca Kjerrumgaard. Neto Borges is out injured for Bristol City while Emil Riis is among the substitutes. Fally Mayulu and Sinclair Armstrong are included in an attack-minded looking side. Bristol City's injury issues are also highlighted by having two goalkeepers on the bench! Watford v Bristol City (20: 00 GMT) Bristol City could push themselves as high as fourth place with a win at Vicarage Road tonight. For Watford there is a chance to move within one point of the play-off spots ahead of the weekend games. Watford v Bristol City (20: 00 GMT) Not even 48 hours after the midweek Championship excitement finished, we are back at it again as the weekend chaos kicks off with an intriguing looking game. Watford are going for a fifth successive home win while Bristol City are looking to avoid a third straight league defeat. Both of these sides are also well in contention for the play-off places. There's lots to talk about so come on in. .. Watford's Marc Bola opened the scoring with his first goal for the club Watford and Bristol City played out an entertaining Friday night draw at Vicarage Road in the Championship. The Hornets, coming off the back of four consecutive victories at home, took an early lead through Marc Bola's calm finish. Scott Twine levelled for the injury-depleted visitors on the half-hour mark with a trademark free-kick which caught out Watford keeper Egil Selvik at his near post. The draw moves Watford up a place to 11th in the table while Bristol City stay seventh, outside the play-off positions on goal difference, before Saturday's fixtures. It took just six minutes for Watford to hit the front as in-form captain Imran Louza played a beautiful pass over the top from deep to Bola, who expertly controlled it in his stride before slipping the ball past City keeper Radek Vitek for his first goal for the club since joining from Turkish side Samsunspor. The hosts were in control at that stage and could have doubled their advantage but Vitek did well to keep out Edo Kayembe's strike from distance which was cleverly touched towards goal by team-mate Kevin Keben. That save proved to be pivotal as, soon after, Twine equalised with a whipped free-kick from the left which Selvik could only palm into his own net. That goal changed the momentum of the game with the visitors dominating the ball but Watford had an opportunity to regain the lead before the break as another Kayembe strike was gathered in by Vitek. Ten minutes into the second period, Bristol City's Anis Mehmeti received the ball 20 yards out and arrowed an accurate left-foot shot towards the bottom corner but it was smartly tipped around the post by Selvik. Down at the other end, Bola had a chance to claim his second of the night after Nestory Irankunda did well to get around the back of the City defence but he scuffed his effort wide of the mark. Twine then found himself in acres of space and put Sinclair Armstrong clear with an inch-perfect through ball but the Bristol City striker was unable to beat Selvik who came out to meet him to make a good one-on-one block. A Watford corner from the left then found itself all the way to Othmane Maamma at the back post and the Moroccan substitute forced Vitek into a save before the on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper kept out further efforts from Luca Kjerrumgaard and Kwadwo Baah. Substitute Baah stung the gloves of Vitek late on as Watford racked up 10 shots on target, while fellow replacement Tom Ince's instinctive strike was parried out by the visiting stopper as the hosts had to settle for a point. Watford boss Javi Gracia to Sky Sports: "I was sure it would be a tough game - there were different moments for both teams. We had more clear chances but you have to kill the game when you have the chance. "At the beginning we dominated, but after conceding the goal the game was open - we had more chances but at the end they had a clear chance, one v one. " On the Bristol City equaliser from a free-kick: "We spoke before the game about trying to avoid those fouls as they have good free-kick takers. "It's impossible sometimes to stop them but we tried to avoid those sorts of fouls. " Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber told BBC Radio Bristol: "We are really happy. In our situation, to pick up a point at Watford, at the moment, is not easy. "How this group of players invested today, with not the freshest [of] legs, it is a really good performance - I'm really proud. "The investment, the togetherness, the team dynamic and also how the boys make the right decisions makes me happy. "Today, the boys showed me outstanding mentality. [They are] mentality monsters and I love to work with players like that. " On Scott Twine's free-kick: "Scott is our free-kick monster. He has something in his leg that is perfect for us. He can create points with free-kicks but he also created a great chance for Sinclair Armstrong. Outstanding technical power under the highest tempo. " 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 7th November 2025 at 21: 57 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Javier Gracia Formation: 3 - 4 - 3 Manager: Gerhard Struber Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Manager: Javier Gracia Formation: 3 - 4 - 3 Manager: Gerhard Struber Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Watford have won three of their last four home league meetings with Bristol City without conceding (L1), and have lost just one of their last six (W3 D2). Bristol City won their most recent game against Watford in April, and could win back-to-back league matches against them for the first time since a run of three between 1990 and 1991. Watford have won each of their last four home league games, their longest run since a five-game spell ending in November 2024 – the Hornets haven’t won five in a row while also scoring more than once in each victory on home turf since 1985 in the top-flight (7). Bristol City have lost back-to-back league games for the first time under Gerhard Struber, last losing more in a row in February/March 2024, a four-game streak under Liam Manning. Watford’s Imrân Louza has scored in each of his last four Championship appearances, with Troy Deeney in 2015 the last Hornet to go on a longer scoring streak in the league (6 in a row). Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.