Following the superb 6-1 victory over Derby County in midweek, Cardiff City faced a tough test away at Watford on Saturday – a side they have failed to beat in nine visits to Vicarage Road.
Starting confidently, the Bluebirds limited Watford to counter attacks in the opening stages, controlling midfield. The home fans’ frustration stung Watford into action and Tom Cleverly came close to opening the scoring with a superb twenty-yard freekick that bounced to safety off Marshall’s post.
But it was Cardiff who got the reward for their early dominance when good build up play put Bothroyd behind. Watford’s Manchester United loanee Craig Cathcart could only bring him down and Peter Whittingham put his spot kick in the bottom left hand corner.
Michael Chopra really should have got his 13th of what’s already an extraordinarily productive season, but he could only put Boothroyd’s centre past the post. Within moments, Hudson headed onto the post and Gavin Rae failed to net the rebound from six yards.
City looked comfortable, but their second owed as much to Saturday’s strong winds as their excellent midfield play. Adam Matthews lofted a long free kick into the box and Watford keeper Scott Loach misjudged the flight and it was over and in for Matthews’ first senior league goal.
Cardiff started the second half in the same fine style, restricting the hornets to a Danny Graham chance on 56 minutes which the striker lofter over under good pressure from Marshall.
Cardiff looked like they’d got the third their play deserved when Whittingham crossed and Mark Hudson profited from some penallty area to get a shot in which was blocked on the line by a Watford hand in the opinion of the visiting Bluebirds behind the goal.
It soon came though when, twenty minutes into the second half Peter Whittingham got on the end of Gavin Rae’s cross from the right.
Cardiff fans were still celebrating when Jay Bothroyd added the fourth; out muscling Cathcart to make space for a left-footed shot past Loach.
Watford had their best spell as they looked for consolation and the Cardiff back four started to doze and were only saved by two clearances off the line from corners and a last ditch tackle by Whittingham. Marshall too was called into action to keep out a stinging effort from Hornets’ sub Nathan Ellington.
Michael Chopra missed another great chance after getting into a one-on-one and the Welsh support gave injury returnee Ross McCormack a warm welcome off the bench. It’s up to forth for Cardiff as they enter the international break in this topsy turvy season.
Watford: Scott Loach, Adrian Mariappa, Don Cowie (Jon Harley 79), Danny Graham, Lloyd Doyley, Ross Jenkins (Henri Lansbury 72), Will Hoskins (Nathan Ellington 59), Tom Cleverley, Craig Cathcart, John Eustace, Lee Hodson. Subs not used: Scott Severin, Richard Lee, Dale Bennett, Liam Henderson.
Cardiff City: David Marshall, Mark Kennedy (Paul Quinn 56), Gavin Rae (Joe Ledley 79), Mark Hudson, Peter Whittingham, Michael Chopra (Ross McCormack 90), Jay Bothroyd, Stephen McPhail, Chris Burke, Anthony Gerrard, Adam Matthews. Subs not used: Gabor Gyepes, Soloman Taiwo, Riccardo Scimeca, Peter Enckelman.
