Glancing Ballard header from Cardines cross gives hosts victory
On-loan Crystal Palace defender Cardines' sixth assist of season already
Bristol City climb to fifth in Championship table, Watford stay 17th
Robins bounce back after successive defeats but fourth loss in five for Hornets
Get Involved: Use yellow button on page to send in your views
All games kick-off at 15:00 BST unless stated
Saturday
Sunday
FT: Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Bristol City
Robins boss Michael Skubala told Sky Sports:
"I was really pleased. It's not easy after the couple of (defeats) we've had but we showed good resilience.
"I thought we showed some real intensity, moved it really well and looked threatening, especially in the first half.
"We challenged the group with the clean sheet and defending our box. It's long overdue. We should have had more.
"I made seven changes and it shows the depth of the squad."
On sitting fifth after eight games in a new job: "You always want to start well but it's a new group, some young signings, I'd have snapped your hand off for fifth after eight games, but we could have got some more results."
On Dom Ballard and Lorent Tolaj battling for a start in attack: "You want competition, you want them to score goals, you want them to hold up and press - you want these sort of decisions as a coach."
FT: Bristol City 1-0 Watford
City are back in the top five and are just a point off the top of the table, until tomorrow at least.
Eight games in, you'd call that a decent start for new boss Michael Skubala.
Less so for Alessio Dionisi whose Hornets side are just four points above the drop zone with the sides below them all playing over the weekend.
He's been unable to pick his first choice XI yet this season but will hope to get some walking wounded back to fitness before their next game on 10 October.
FT: Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Bristol City
Image source, ShutterstockRobins matchwinner Dom Ballard told Sky Sports about his link-up with assist machine Rio Cardines: "We've got something going.
"It's going well. I'm buzzing to score the goal and even better the team got the win."
On his first home goal: "As a striker when you go to a new club you always want to get off the mark at a new stadium, to hear the roar at Ashton Gate was really special."
Ballard said the international break had come at a good time for City, adding: "Every day on the training pitch the gaffer is putting his things in.
"We've got three weeks off now and if you look back at our first period of games it's been really positive."
FT: Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Sophie Hurcom
BBC Sport at Ashton Gate
After back-to-back defeats in the past seven days, that victory will have given Michael Skubala and Bristol City fans a huge lift going into the international break.
They weren't as clinical as he probably would have liked and at 1-0 it felt at times like Watford could have nicked an equaliser out of somewhere. But crucially they didn't, to give the Robins a first clean sheet under Skubala.
Four wins out of eight games makes things look a lot brighter for the Robins and gives Skubala plenty of food for thought before they travel to Charlton on 10 October.
As for Watford, they ended up with 64% possession and created 10 shots, although just two were on target and they end up with a fourth defeat in five games.
On this form it feels like Alessio Dionisi will be glad just to get his side back on the training pitch for a few weeks to regroup.
FT: Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Derek Payne
Former Watford midfielder on BBC Three Counties Radio
There'll be huge frustrations from Watford. The players put a huge effort in but they should have put more tempo in early in the second half.
They should have had a penalty, but if we're being honest, did they do enough to warrant that? I don't think so.
They [Bristol City] had a bit more quality and Cardines comes to mind. He's been good for them, an assist king.
Bove is a real massive presence for Watford in the middle if he's out for eight weeks or something like that then he'll be a big miss. Central midfield is a real concern.
FT: Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Gary Owers
Former Sunderland & Bristol City midfielder on BBC Radio Bristol
Image source, ShutterstockFirst clean sheet of the season is a bonus.
Michael Skubala's celebrations at the end sums up what it means to him and the fans. I think the result this evening was always more important than the performance.
The team has put in a good shift and on the night they've done the job.
Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Image source, ShutterstockAll over.
Bristol City bounce back after two defeats this week to win at home, with a clean sheet, and jump back into the top five,
Watford's threadbare side lose for a fourth time in five matches,
Dom Ballard's fine glancing header from Rio Cardines' glorious cross just after the half-hour proved the difference, though both sides spurned chances to add to the scoring.
Lorent Tolaj, Joe WIlliams and Jason Knight went close for City and Luca Kjerremgaard and Amin Nabizada did likewise for Watford while both sides had strong penalty appeals waved away.
Tough times for the Hornets who desperately need the international break to get some players back, but the Robins go into the three-week sojourn on a high.
Bristol City 1-0 Watford
City deal with the initial corner but the follow-up is nodded out to Stephy Mavididi who takes a neat touch before unleashing a dipping volley from the edge of the box which is straight at keeper Sam Tickle.
Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Edo Kayembe's powerful strike cannons behind to give the Hornets a corner in the dying moments.
All the big guns are up.
Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Lorent Tolaj is also playing like he has a point to prove.
He cuts inside from the right and fizzes in a low shot from the edge of the box which stings the palms of Federico Ravaglia, who gathers at the second attempt.
Bristol City 1-0 Watford
FOUR added minutes for Watford to try to pinch a point.
Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Noah Eile and Adam Randell are heading off for the hosts with Gibson Yah and Lisaf Eissat coming on for the last knockings.
Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Myron Boadu goes to ground in the box as he tries to get an angled shot away and appeals to Oliver Langford that his shirt was being pulled by Noah Eile.
He's got a shout you know. Risky from the defender, but not sure the ref had a good view of it.
Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Rio Cardines has switched to right back and is causing problems in an attacking sense.
He links up well with Jason Knight, who produces a lovely nutmeg pass, and City have a corner, just their second of the night.
Cardines takes it and tries to whip it into the near post but Watford are wise to his game and it's cleared, as is Cardines' lofted follow-up.
Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Fine effort from Rio Cardines, from a long way out.
He bends it up and over the wall and brings it back down, but it's six inches over Federico Ravaglia's bar as the keeper flies to his right.
Bristol City 1-0 Watford
A seventh caution of the game as Mattie Pollock fells Lorent Tolaj in full flight 30 yards from goal.
Rio Cardines is having a look...
Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Image source, ShutterstockWhat a chance.
Lorent Tolaj is sprung by a glorious ball over the top and manages to control the ball and bustle into the box but with only the keeper to beat he lashes high and wide.
Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Derek Payne
Former Watford midfielder on BBC Three Counties Radio
Watford have got to be more inventive. You know they're sitting back. Can we get at the full-backs? Maybe double up in the wide areas.
It's the attacking side. They just need more because at the moment I don't see them scoring.
Bristol City 1-0 Watford
Great claim from Federico Ravaglia as he comes 16 yards off his line to claim a high cross from Rio Cardines.
He might have hurt himself in the process.
The good news for Watford is they do have two keepers on the bench if he doesn't recover.
He does, though...
Dom Ballard scored his third goal for Bristol City since his transfer this summer
Dom Ballard scored the only goal of the match as Bristol City bounced back from successive defeats to beat Watford in the Championship at Ashton Gate.
The 21-year-old netted his third goal for the Robins since his summer move from Leyton Orient with a glancing header past Federico Ravaglia on the half-hour mark.
Jason Knight and Joe Williams both put headers wide for City during the first half while Robins substitute Lorent Tolaj wasted a late chance to put the seal on the win by firing over when one-on-one with Ravaglia.
City move up to fifth before the rest of the weekend's fixtures, as Watford suffered a fourth defeat in eight league games this season.
The reverse continued the Hornets' poor away form - this was their eighth loss on the road in nine games and the third in a row they have failed to score in.
After a lacklustre midweek loss at home to his former club Lincoln City, which had followed a heavy 4-1 defeat at Southampton, Robins boss Michael Skubala made seven changes to his starting XI, including bringing Ballard back into the mix for his third league start.
Captain Knight should have put the hosts ahead inside three minutes but, unmarked a few yards out, could only direct his header the wrong side of the post.
Watford had a good early chance of their own but Luca Kjerrumgaard - back in to start for the Hornets in one of four changes by Alessio Dionisi - poked the ball over the bar from the centre of the box.
It was the hosts who enjoyed the better pressure in the opening 45 minutes as Williams also missed a clear-cut chance and placed his diving header wide from close range.
City had their goal, though, on 31 minutes as Ballard jumped unchallenged to divert the ball in from a stylish cross by Rio Cardines, taking the on-loan Crystal Palace defender's tally for assists to an impressive six in seven league games.
Watford created more after the break but were unable to draw level.
Amin Nabizada ran down the wing and cut inside but his shot was deflected behind while Hector Kyprianou shot straight into Sam Tickle's hands and Rocco Vata lashed an effort into the stands.
City substitute Tolaj looked most like adding the second goal of the night, bursting through Watford's defence more than once but he hit the side netting and then fired over the bar despite beating Ravaglia.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 14 |
| |
| 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 14 |
| |
| 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 14 |
| |
| 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 14 |
| |
| 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 12 | -1 | 13 |
| |
| 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 12 |
| |
| 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 12 |
| |
| 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 11 |
| |
| 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 11 |
| |
| 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| |
| 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 10 |
| |
| 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 10 |
| |
| 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 10 |
| |
| 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 9 |
| |
| 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 9 |
| |
| 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
| |
| 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 8 |
| |
| 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 7 |
| |
| 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 7 |
| |
| 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 12 | -5 | 7 |
| |
| 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 4 |
| |
| 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 13 | -7 | 4 |
| |
| 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 13 | -7 | 3 |
| |
| 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 3 |
|
Manager:Michael Skubala
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager:Alessio Dionisi
Formation:3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Manager:Michael Skubala
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager:Alessio Dionisi
Formation:3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Championship
All competitions
All competitions
Bristol City have won just two of their last 10 Championship meetings with Watford (D4 L4), and could lose back-to-back league games against the Hornets for the first time since September 2010.
After their 2-1 win in this exact fixture last season, Watford could enjoy back-to-back league wins away to Bristol City for just the third time in their history, after October 1947 and March 2012.
Bristol City have lost six of their last nine league games at Ashton Gate (W3), while overall they could lose three league matches in a row for only the second time since the start of 2025 (March 2026 previously).
Watford have lost seven of their last eight away games in the Championship (D1), including both of their last two without scoring.
Bristol City’s Rio Cardines leads the Championship this season for assists (5) and chances created (24), while only Jarrod Bowen (2.9) has a higher expected assists total than his 2.4.
