Thursday , 2 July 2026

Cardiff City FC vs Watford FC, Championship 2023-24 REGULAR SEASON

Championship · 2023-24
Cardiff City FC
1 – 1
Full Time
Watford FC
Sat 7 Oct 2023 · 14:00 UTC Cardiff City Stadium HT 45' · FT 45'
Mark McGuinness 26' 1–0
1–1 54' Vakoun Issouf Bayo
Y 39' Francisco Sierralta
Y 65' Jamal Lewis

Overview

Match Preview

Cardiff City FC vs Watford FC — Championship at Cardiff City Stadium.

Match Details

  • Referee Gavin Ward
  • Assistant 1 Adam Crysell
  • Assistant 2 Lee Venamore

Standings

# Team P Pts
1 Coventry City FC 46 95
2 Ipswich Town FC 46 84
3 Millwall FC 46 83
4 Southampton FC 46 80
5 Middlesbrough FC 46 80
6 Hull City AFC 46 73
7 Wrexham AFC 46 71
8 Derby County FC 46 69
9 Norwich City FC 46 65
10 Birmingham City FC 46 64
11 Swansea City AFC 46 64
12 Bristol City FC 46 62
13 Sheffield United FC 46 60
14 Preston North End FC 46 60
15 Queens Park Rangers FC 46 58
16 Watford FC 46 57
17 Stoke City FC 46 55
18 Portsmouth FC 46 55
19 Charlton Athletic FC 46 53
20 Blackburn Rovers FC 46 52
21 West Bromwich Albion FC 46 51
22 Oxford United FC 46 47
23 Leicester City FC 46 46
24 Sheffield Wednesday FC 46 0

Head-to-Head

4
2
4
Cardiff City FC 10 games · Avg 3.0 goals Watford FC
Last 5 meetings
2023-10-07 Cardiff City FC 1–1 Watford FC 2023-04-19 Watford FC 1–3 Cardiff City FC 2022-11-02 Cardiff City FC 1–2 Watford FC 2021-03-13 Cardiff City FC 1–2 Watford FC 2020-12-05 Watford FC 0–1 Cardiff City FC

Recent Form

Cardiff City FC
DateOpponentH/A ScoreResult
07 Oct Watford FC H 1–1 D
03 Oct Middlesbrough FC A 0–2 L
30 Sep Rotherham United FC H 2–0 W
24 Sep Sunderland AFC A 1–0 W
19 Sep Coventry City FC H 3–2 W
16 Sep Swansea City AFC H 2–0 W
Watford FC
DateOpponentH/A ScoreResult
07 Oct Cardiff City FC A 1–1 D
04 Oct Sunderland AFC A 0–2 L
30 Sep Middlesbrough FC H 2–3 L
23 Sep Leeds United FC A 0–3 L
20 Sep West Bromwich Albion FC H 2–2 D
16 Sep Birmingham City FC H 2–0 W

Key Stats

80% Both Teams to Score
H2H (10 games)
60% Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history

Events

Match Events

  • 0' The match kicks off with home fans waiting with anticipation for Cardiff City FC to score. At the same time, Watford FC does not seem to pull back! Let’s get it on!
  • 5' Spectators do not have much to choose from both teams. The sides had several scoring chances but they still need a bit more than just a sight of a goal.
  • 10' The teams are not in a rush to score plenty of goals. It might look strange considering Cardiff City FC that had 372 games and scored 398 goals.
  • 15' It is a cagey affair so far. Cardiff City FC in their 4-3-3 trying to find a way past Watford FC's compact 4-3-3.
  • 20' It looks like no one’s ball. Cardiff City FC is used to counterattacking playing. None of the sides are ready to take the lead.
  • 25' Yaser Asprilla has certainly something to prove this evening. He made 1 appearances with only 0 goals this season.
  • 26' Mark McGuinness makes no mistake. The score reads 1-0 and Cardiff City FC are in front.
  • 31' The clock is ticking and both teams know a goal could change everything at this point.
  • 36' We are waiting for someone to take the initiative. Who will be the first to commit to attack?
  • 39' A meaty challenge results in booking for Francisco Sierralta on 39.
  • 44' Not even hints on scoring a goal over the last 44 minutes.
  • 49' Cardiff City FC are enjoying more possession but struggling to find a way through a disciplined Watford FC backline.
  • 54' Goal! Vakoun Issouf Bayo scores his 48 goal in 11 matches.
  • 58' Time for substitution for Cardiff City FC. Joe Ralls is replaced by Callum Robinson.
  • 59' Imran Louza is replacing Tom Dele-Bashiru for the Watford FC side.
  • 64' It is a substitution in Watford FC team. Francisco Sierralta is replaced by Ryan Porteous on 64 minute.
  • 65' A moment of madness from Jamal Lewis on 65 minutes earns him a Yellow card. Watford FC will be frustrated.
  • 70' Both keepers have barely been tested. Cardiff City FC and Watford FC are cancelling each other out in the centre of the park.
  • 71' Josh Bowler is replacing Ollie Tanner for the Cardiff City FC side.
  • 76' The energy levels are beginning to show. Erol Bulut might look to freshen things up shortly.
  • 81' Watford FC are keeping things exceptionally tight at the back. It will take something special to break them down.
  • 85' Watford FC ring the changes. Matheus Martins has done his job and it is now time for Mileta Rajovic to step up.
  • 87' It is a substitution in Cardiff City FC team. Ike Ugbo is replaced by Romaine Sawyers on 87 minute.
  • Hope, you loved the show. Another epic battle is over with the score 1-1.

Lineups

Cardiff City FC Lineups

4-3-3

Starting XI

Bench

Coach Erol Bulut

Watford FC Lineups

4-3-3

Starting XI

Bench

Coach Valerien Ismael

H2H

H2H Top Scorers

PlayerGoals
Gerard Deulofeu 4
Ismaila Sarr 3
Cedric Kipre 3
Troy Deeney 2
Callum Robinson 2
Francisco Sierralta 2
Vakoun Issouf Bayo 2
Mark McGuinness 1

Head to Head

2023-10-07 Cardiff City FC 1–1 Watford FC 2023-04-19 Watford FC 1–3 Cardiff City FC 2022-11-02 Cardiff City FC 1–2 Watford FC 2021-03-13 Cardiff City FC 1–2 Watford FC 2020-12-05 Watford FC 0–1 Cardiff City FC

Cardiff City FC Form

2023-10-07 Cardiff City FC 1–1 Watford FC D 2023-10-03 Middlesbrough FC 2–0 Cardiff City FC L 2023-09-30 Cardiff City FC 2–0 Rotherham United FC W 2023-09-24 Sunderland AFC 0–1 Cardiff City FC W 2023-09-19 Cardiff City FC 3–2 Coventry City FC W 2023-09-16 Cardiff City FC 2–0 Swansea City AFC W

Watford FC Form

2023-10-07 Cardiff City FC 1–1 Watford FC D 2023-10-04 Sunderland AFC 2–0 Watford FC L 2023-09-30 Watford FC 2–3 Middlesbrough FC L 2023-09-23 Leeds United FC 3–0 Watford FC L 2023-09-20 Watford FC 2–2 West Bromwich Albion FC D 2023-09-16 Watford FC 2–0 Birmingham City FC W

Predictions

Prediction accuracy
1 / 4
1.52 Cardiff City FC xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
0.95 Watford FC xG
I would bet for: Under 2.5 goals 56%

Match Result

✗ Wrong
Cardiff City FC50% Draw27% Watford FC23%
Actual: Draw

Both Teams to Score

✗ Wrong
Yes49% 0% No51%
Avg goals/match: 2.47
Actual: Yes — both scored

Over / Under Goals

✓ O/U 2.5
Line Over Under
± 0.5 89%
11%
± 1.5 71%
29%
± 2.5 44%
56%
± 3.5 24%
76%
± 4.5 11%
89%

Double Chance

Cardiff City FC or Draw
77%
Draw or Watford FC
50%
Cardiff City FC or Watford FC
73%

Half-Time Result

✗ Wrong
Cardiff City FC34% Draw48% Watford FC18%
Actual: Cardiff City FC win at HT

Correct Score

✓ In top 12
1 – 1
Actual
1 – 0
11.8%
0 – 0
10.5%
2 – 0
9.5%
2 – 1
9%
0 – 1
7%
1 – 2
5.6%
3 – 0
4.7%
3 – 1
4.6%
2 – 2
4.3%
0 – 2
3.7%
3 – 2
2.3%

Asian Handicap — Cardiff City FC

Handicap Cardiff City FC covers Push Watford FC covers
-2.5 10% — 90%
-2 10% 15% 75%
-1.5 25% — 75%
-1 25% 23% 51%
-0.5 49% — 51%
+0.5 78% — 22%
+1 78% 14% 8%
+1.5 92% — 8%
+2 92% 6% 2%
+2.5 98% — 2%

Clean Sheet

Cardiff City FC keeps clean sheet
39% ✓
Watford FC keeps clean sheet
23% ✓

Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.