Bristol City 2-1 Watford: Robins back into top six after victory
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Watford at Ashton Gate on Saturday; Ross McCrorie and Nahki Wells steer Robins back into top six.
Saturday 5 April 2025 18:32, UK
First-half goals from Ross McCrorie and Nahki Wells paved the way for Bristol City to leap back into the Sky Bet Championship play-off places with a 2-1 victory over Watford at Ashton Gate.
The home side went in front in the 24th minute when a mistake by Watford defender James Abankwah led to a low cross from the right and, although Wells was crowded out, the ball broke for McCrorie to net with a left-footed volley.
Five minutes later Mark Sykes broke clear down the right, with Watford appealing that the ball had gone out of play. His pass found Wells, who turned onto his left foot to drill a low shot past Egil Selvik from 10 yards.
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Watford substitute Mamadou Doumbia reduced the deficit 10 minutes from time, making space on the edge of the box to beat Max O'Leary with a sweetly struck volley that found the bottom corner - but it was not enough to deny Liam Manning's team three deserved points.
Both clubs made four changes to their previous line-ups, City bringing in McCrorie, Joe Williams, George Earthy and Wells, while Watford included Kwadwo Baah, Abankwah, Jeremy Ngakia and Edo Kayembe from the start.
The visitors made a bright start and Baah's sixth-minute shot from a narrow angle brought the first save from O'Leary. In the 12th minute Jason Knight produced a brilliant saving tackle as Watford's Kayembe prepared to pull the trigger from a central position inside the box.
The momentum swayed when Baah had to be substituted in the 18th minute, going down off the ball in the middle of the pitch and punching the ground in frustration before being replaced by Tom Ince.
City grabbed the initiative and the two goals in quick succession had Ashton Gate bouncing. The only other first-half effort of note came from their midfielder Max Bird, who fired just over from the edge of the box in the 42nd minute.
Watford had faded badly as an attacking force and were not much better at the start of the second half. When Vakoun Bayo volleyed high over from 20 yards in the 56th minute, travelling fans responded with ironic chants of 'we've had a shot'.
Both teams made changes around the hour mark, Watford sending on Giorgi Chakvetadze and Doumbia while City introduced Sinclair Armstrong, Haydon Roberts and Marcus McGuane.
Big striker Armstrong was soon demonstrating his pace, shooting wide of the far post after a powerful run. Such was City's dominance that they could afford to leave leading scorer Anis Mehmeti on the bench until the 72nd minute when he replaced the industrious Bird.
Doumbia's goal briefly raised Watford hopes, but O'Leary saved a tame late shot from Ince and it was City who went closest in stoppage time as Mehmeti's shot was deflected wide.
The managers
Bristol City's Liam Manning:
"The atmosphere inside the ground today was brilliant and it was great to see how many supporters stayed behind after the final whistle to applaud the efforts of the players.
"Their backing is so much appreciated and all I can ask is for the same in three days' time. It is some while since our club has been in the position we now occupy at this stage of the season and I want everyone to enjoy it and dare to dream.
"My staff and players deserve so much credit for putting us where we are and, like myself, they will be giving everything over the last six games. We all work hard every day and only by continuing to do so can we hope to succeed.
"It was a mixed game for us today, but no one can doubt the effort and commitment of the players, or how much progress we have made this season. Being sixth with 40 games played is great, although only after 46 will the placings really count.
"We can only control our own performances and try to maintain a consistency. If we do that, we have as good a chance as anyone of finishing in the play-off zone."
Watford's Tom Cleverley:
"It was a huge blow losing Kwadwo Baah so early after we had made a really good start to the game. He has suffered a recurrence of his recent thigh injury and faces another lay-off.
"We are not the same attacking force without his pace, which was causing City problems. James Abankwah has made a mistake for their first goal, but that happens with young players and it's important that we rally around him.
"The ball has clearly gone out of play in the build-up to their second goal. The referee has the support of an assistant and the fourth official, but still got it wrong. There is no more I can say.
"Mamadou Doumbia has made an impact as a substitute and scored a very good goal, so he has every chance of starting our next game. Unfortunately, the two-goal deficit gave us too much of a mountain to climb.
"Whether or not a play-off challenge is still on, I am very proud that we are stlll being mentioned as contenders near the end of a season that began with talk of relegation fears."
