Watford vs Cardiff City LIVE: Championship result, final score and reaction
Follow live coverage as Watford face Cardiff City in the Championship today.
An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.
Last year Southampton, Leicester City and Leeds United were relegated from the top flight and all are hopeful of making a quick return - but the likes of Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland all have real promotion ambitions too.
At the other end of the table, QPR, Cardiff City and Birmingham City will hope for better campaigns than last year’s relegation struggle - while newcomers Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to survive after dramatic progress through the play-offs.
Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
Watford FC 0 - 1 Cardiff City FC
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:56
Match ends, Watford 0, Cardiff City 1.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:54
Second Half ends, Watford 0, Cardiff City 1.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:54
Foul by Emmanuel Dennis (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:53
Foul by Emmanuel Dennis (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:53
Attempt saved. Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) header from the centre of the box is saved.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:53
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Josh Wilson-Esbrand.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:56
Attempt saved. Ismaël Koné (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:52
Dimitrios Goutas (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:49
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Dimitrios Goutas.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:52
Attempt saved. Ken Sema (Watford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:49
Attempt saved. Tom Dele-Bashiru (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ismaël Koné.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:47
Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:47
Attempt missed. Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses the top right corner.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:45
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Ryan Wintle.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:44
Foul by Emmanuel Dennis (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:44
Attempt missed. Wesley Hoedt (Watford) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Ken Sema with a cross following a corner.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:44
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Mark McGuinness.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:42
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Nathaniel Phillips.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:42
Attempt blocked. Jamal Lewis (Watford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:42
Substitution, Cardiff City. Nathaniel Phillips replaces Jamilu Collins.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:42
Substitution, Cardiff City. Famara Diédhiou replaces Kion Etete.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:38
Substitution, Watford. Tom Dele-Bashiru replaces Jake Livermore.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:42
Attempt missed. Mileta Rajovic (Watford) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ismaël Koné with a cross following a corner.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:35
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Ryan Wintle.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:38
Attempt blocked. Wesley Hoedt (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Andrews with a cross.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:35
Substitution, Cardiff City. Josh Wilson-Esbrand replaces Josh Bowler.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:33
Substitution, Cardiff City. Mahlon Romeo replaces Perry Ng.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:32
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Mark McGuinness.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:32
Attempt missed. Dimitrios Goutas (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Ryan Wintle with a cross following a set piece situation.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:30
Foul by Ken Sema (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:30
Foul by Wesley Hoedt (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:29
Josh Bowler (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:29
Ismaël Koné (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:29
Foul by Mileta Rajovic (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:29
Dimitrios Goutas (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:27
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:27
Delay in match because of an injury Perry Ng (Cardiff City).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:29
Attempt missed. Yáser Asprilla (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Emmanuel Dennis.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:27
Attempt blocked. Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mileta Rajovic.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:24
Offside, Watford. Jamal Lewis is caught offside.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:24
Substitution, Cardiff City. David Turnbull replaces Rubin Colwill.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:24
Attempt missed. Ismaël Koné (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Jamal Lewis.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:24
Attempt missed. Ryan Andrews (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Emmanuel Dennis.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:19
Substitution, Watford. Mileta Rajovic replaces Vakoun Bayo.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:19
Substitution, Watford. Ken Sema replaces Giorgi Chakvetadze.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:19
Substitution, Watford. Emmanuel Dennis replaces Matheus Martins.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:19
Foul by Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:19
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Ryan Wintle.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:15
Attempt saved. Manolis Siopis (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:13
Matheus Martins (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:11
Attempt missed. Perry Ng (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:11
Attempt missed. Josh Bowler (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ryan Wintle.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:10
Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:10
Foul by Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:10
Jake Livermore (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:10
Foul by Jake Livermore (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:10
Attempt missed. Kion Etete (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:09
Attempt missed. Perry Ng (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:07
Mattie Pollock (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:05
Foul by Mattie Pollock (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:04
Second Half begins Watford 0, Cardiff City 1.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:48
First Half ends, Watford 0, Cardiff City 1.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:48
Ismaël Koné (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:48
Attempt missed. Yáser Asprilla (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jamal Lewis with a cross.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:46
Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:46
Foul by Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:44
Goal! Watford 0, Cardiff City 1. Josh Bowler (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Perry Ng.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:40
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Jak Alnwick.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:36
Jake Livermore (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:33
Attempt missed. Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:31
Foul by Wesley Hoedt (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:30
Foul by Matheus Martins (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:36
Attempt saved. Yáser Asprilla (Watford) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jamal Lewis with a headed pass.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:27
Foul by Yáser Asprilla (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:24
Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:27
Foul by Jake Livermore (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:27
Attempt saved. Ryan Andrews (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matheus Martins.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:24
Attempt missed. Josh Bowler (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mark McGuinness with a headed pass following a corner.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:22
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Matheus Martins.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:17
Attempt missed. Kion Etete (Cardiff City) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Karlan Grant with a cross following a corner.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:15
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Mattie Pollock.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:14
Foul by Vakoun Bayo (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:13
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Dimitrios Goutas.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:11
Foul by Mattie Pollock (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:10
Mattie Pollock (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:07
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:07
Delay in match (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:07
Attempt blocked. Matheus Martins (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Giorgi Chakvetadze.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:02
First Half begins.
Watford vs Cardiff City
14:30
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Watford vs Cardiff City
14:00
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