Watford have picked up just a single point on the road all season after a 1-0 defeat at Bristol City on Friday night. Dominic Ballard's 31st-minute header was enough to settle the Sky Bet Championship contest at Ashton Gate and leave Alessio Dionisi's side 17th in the table with eight points from eight games.
Bristol City manager Michael Skubala made seven changes to his lineup and saw the move pay off. Rio Cardines delivered the cross from the left for Ballard to nod home, the defender's sixth assist of the campaign. The goal proved decisive as Watford, fielding six young players including two 19-year-olds and two 20-year-olds, struggled to create clear chances.
"Dom's got great movement in and around the box and I thought he could get down the sides of the two centre-halves," Skubala said after the match. He praised his team's resilience following back-to-back defeats, noting good intensity in the first half and fast transitions after the break. The win lifted Bristol City to fifth place ahead of the international break.
For Watford, the problems are mounting. The squad is ravaged by injuries, a situation manager Alessio Dionisi highlighted with frustration. "Today there were six young players in the line-up. Two 19-year-olds and two 20-year-olds," he said. He pointed out there were no midfielders or defenders available on the bench, making it difficult to ask more from his limited options. The team's goal minutes show the scale of the challenge: they have scored just seven goals this season, with their goals coming on average in the 67th minute, while conceding ten, with opponents scoring on average in the 52nd minute.
Dionisi expressed dissatisfaction with his team's play in the final 20 metres of the pitch. Despite the current struggles, which include four losses in their last five matches, the manager said he believes in the team's future. He has spoken daily with the club's director and owner, referencing a lot of late arrivals in the transfer window, and addressed the players in the dressing room about belief and teamwork.
The numbers show the challenge. Watford have scored just seven goals this season while conceding ten, and their recent form reads one win and four losses. Top scorer Amin Nabizada, who has three goals in seven appearances, could not find a way through against City.
This result continues a poor run of away form, with defeats at Swansea and West Brom preceding it. The next opportunity to stop the slide comes after the international break, when Watford host Burnley at Vicarage Road on 10 October. Fans can check that fixture and the full schedule on our fixtures list.
Read the full report at Sky Sports Football
