Bristol City vs Watford Prediction: Home side to push for play-offs

Bristol City failed to capitalise on defeats for both Coventry and West Brom last weekend, as they narrowly lost to title-chasing Burnley at Turf Moor. They became the latest victim of the Clarets’ impenetrable defence as Burnley kept another clean sheet to keep Liam Manning’s men outside the top six. 

Their next test comes at home to Watford, who saw their own play-off hopes fade as they failed to beat Plymouth Argyle at Vicarage Road. This one kicks off at 15:00 on Saturday afternoon, and below you can find my Bristol City vs Watford predictions. 

Football Odds

Team News

George Tanner and Luke McNally remain out for the hosts but Joe Williams has taken part in training and looks to be available for this one. Ross McCrorie is also back in contention to start having completed 30 minutes off the bench at Burnley, following his spell on the sidelines. 

Williams was left as an unused substitute in the Robins’ recent defeat but that was just as a precaution, so he is expected to get some minutes in this one. Meanwhile, Manning will need to decide whether to stick or twist with Cam Pring, who has started alongside Rob Dickie and Zak Vyner in City's back three recently, with Haydon Roberts at left wing-back.

McCrorie’s return could pave the way for a defensive reshuffle, while Manning must also choose whether Nakhi Wells or Sinclair Armstrong starts up front. The latter got the nod v Burnley, but Wells has produced at Ashton Gate this term. The number nine is likely to be supported by Scott Twine and Anis Mehmeti for the game against Watford. 

Talking of the Hornets, they will be looking for more attacking thrust having drawn a blank against bottom of the league Plymouth. Vakoun Bayo was extremely wasteful but is likely to start again given a lack of other options, with 18-year-old Zavier Massiah-Edwards replacing him to make his Championship debut in that 0-0 draw. 

Rocco Vata and Giorgi Chakvetadze will occupy the wide positions while Edo Kayembe will hope to win his shirt back in midfield. Tom Dele-Bashiru was replaced on the hour-mark but should start again, while Ryan Andrews could be replaced by Jeremy Ngakia at right-back for this tough away test. 

Bristol City vs Watford Odds

Bristol City are priced up at 4/5 to win this game having won 10 of their 19 league matches at Ashton Gate this term. Meanwhile, Watford can be backed at 18/5 for the win, and a draw is 5/2.

We can look to Wells and Armstrong for goals, as they lead the first goalscorer market, both priced at 5/1 to open the scoring in Bristol. Meanwhile, over 2.5 goals is up at 11/10, and BTTS is available at 1/1 if that tickles your fancy. 

Bristol City to win to nil @ 7/4

I’m going to back the home side to win this one, and end Watford’s play-off hopes for good. Bristol City may have lost to Burnley last time out, but there is no shame in that, and prior to that game, Manning’s men were unbeaten in seven. They’ve looked really solid this season and their home form is the fifth-strongest in the division. 

They are now averaging 1.89 points per home game, while Watford have only won four from 19 fixtures on the road this term. I just don’t think the Hornets have what it takes to break into the top six, while they’ve also struggled for goals of late. In their last five games, they have scored just twice, while they have blanked in their last two outings, against Plymouth and Oxford - arguably the two weakest teams in the division right now. 

I can’t see them breaking down Bristol City in this one, so let’s back the home side to win to nil as our first selection. 

Correct score - Bristol City 2-0 Watford @ 7/1

Much along the same lines of my first selection, I’m really confident the home side will win this game without too much fuss, so the 2-0 Bristol City win appeals to me at a decent price. The Robins have scored exactly two goals in four of their last five home matches, and beat Stoke by this scoreline at the start of February. 

With Armstrong, Twine and Mehmeti they have enough to dominate this Watford defence, so let’s plump for this scoreline on Saturday afternoon. 

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