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Watford 1-0 Bristol City: Ryan Andrews scores in narrow Hornets win

Admin 5 hours ago

4 1 minute read

Watford returned to the play-off positions after Ryan Andrews netted a 1-0 win at home against Bristol City in the second half.

Andrews scored from his side's only shot on target as the Hornets maintained their unbeaten run at home under manager Tom Cleverley.

It was also a first away defeat since September for the Robins, who were repeatedly denied by Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann.

The opening exchanges were messy, with neither side able to make much of the ball before Giorgi Chakvetadze struck narrowly wide for the hosts.

The Robins immediately managed to launch a counter-attack, only for Anis Mehmeti's long-range effort to be blocked by a defender.

City's next attack was more promising as Mehmeti Nakhi Wells played into space on the left side of the penalty area, but Bachmann quickly came out to save at the expense of a corner.

The Robins came close again with Mehmeti, again the supplier. However, Luke McNally's header was saved by Bachmann, after which Wells headed harmlessly over.

Watford responded with hopeful potshots from Festy Ebosele and Vakoun Bayo, neither of which troubled goalkeeper Max O'Leary.

City continued to counter at a high pace, with Bachmann again having to deny Mehmeti. Andrews was next to try his luck on the other side; again he could not locate the target, and a few minutes later it was the same story with Edo Kayembe.

The second period started with Max Bird's free-kick deflecting off the Watford wall, and from the resulting corner Bachmann had to get down quickly to avoid Jason Knight at his near post.

The match needed a goal and Andrews, picked out in the space on the right of the City box, broke the deadlock in style in the 53rd minute. Chakvetadze looped a pass across goal for the full-back and unleashed a low drive over O'Leary that headed in via the far post.

Wells headed wide as the Robins looked for a way back in a match they largely controlled.

Watford were unnerved when Francisco Sierralta, booked earlier for a foul on Bird, felled Wells but referee James Linington failed to produce a second yellow, or when the Chilean defender appeared to act deliberately shortly afterwards.

Sierralta were quickly substituted and after Marcus McGuane squandered a reasonable City chance, play was stopped when Bachmann collided with McNally and both required treatment.

It wasn't City's night as substitute Scott Twine saw his long-range strike beat Bachmann in the 86th minute, only to rebound through the frame of the goal.