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Matchday 8 · · Ashton Gate Stadium

Bristol City vs Watford: line-ups

Bristol City 13 · 10 points
Watford 17 · 8 points

Predicted line-ups Bristol City vs Watford

Bristol City 4-2-3-1 last match

Our predicted line-up follows a few days before kick-off. Until then, below is the side Bristol City fielded on against Lincoln City.

1 Tickle
3 Pring
2 Eissat
16 Dickie
21 Cardines
27 Yah
12 Knight
7 Hirakawa
10 Twine
17 Wallace
9 Tolaj

Last line-up for Bristol City: Tickle, Pring, Eissat, Dickie, Cardines, Yah, Knight, Hirakawa, Twine, Wallace, Tolaj

Watford 4-2-3-1 last match

Our predicted line-up follows a few days before kick-off. Until then, below is the side Watford fielded on against Stoke City.

1 Ravaglia
33 Zemura
3 Coulibaly
6 Pollock
4 Keben
5 Kyprianou
39 Kayembe
45 Mavididi
17 Bravo
7 Maamma
20 Doumbia

Last line-up for Watford: Ravaglia, Zemura, Coulibaly, Pollock, Keben, Kyprianou, Kayembe, Mavididi, Bravo, Maamma, Doumbia

Bristol City

Rio Cardines has filled in at both full-back positions for Bristol City in recent matches and been the more effective option in either role, leaving Michael Skubala with a decision on which side suits him best against Watford. George Tanner and Cameron Pring have taken turns opposite him without matching his output there.

Joseph Williams is available again after being rested for the defeat by Lincoln City, with Skubala saying the midfielder will be back against Watford. Tanner also missed that match, while Dominic Ballard, restricted to a single start in the last five games, was again used from the bench rather than given a place in the side from kick-off.

Luke McNally is doubtful because of a knee injury and is expected to build up fitness with the under-21s before pushing for a first-team recall. Brian De Keersmaecker remains out with a shoulder injury, and Elijah Adebayo is available again but is not yet expected to start.

Watford

Watford's most pressing absence for the trip to Bristol City is Jordan Zemura, withdrawn before half-time against Stoke City and unavailable for this match. Edoardo Bove also remains out with a knee injury, having started twice in the side's last five matches.

Soumaïla Coulibaly has been the better performer of the two recent options at left centre-back, sharing the position with Kévin Keben. Omar Traoré and Amin Nabizada were both used from the bench against Stoke City rather than in the starting eleven, despite having started three times each earlier in the run, while Stephy Mavididi made his first start of the season in that same match.

New signing Michail Antonio joined the club last week, but Dionisi has said he is not yet ready and could not say how many weeks he would need.

Injuries and suspensions

Bristol City

  • Brian De Keersmaecker Shoulder injury Unavailable
  • Luke McNally Knee injury Unavailable

Watford

  • Branimir Mlačić Not registered Unavailable
  • Edoardo Bove Knee injury Unavailable
  • Jack Grieves Lacking match fitness Unavailable
  • Jeremy Ngakia Thigh injury Unavailable
  • Kwadwo Baah Knock Unavailable
  • Myron Boadu Injury Unavailable
  • Marc Bola Hamstring injury Unavailable
  • Travis Akomeah Lacking match fitness Unavailable

Players to watch

The five players from each team with the most combined goals and assists this season.

All stats

Bristol City

  1. Rio Cardines Defender 0 goals 5 assists
  2. Lorent Tolaj Forward 2 goals 1 assists
  3. Scott Twine Midfielder 2 goals 0 assists
  4. Dom Ballard Midfielder 2 goals 0 assists
  5. Jason Knight Midfielder 1 goals 0 assists

Watford

  1. Amin Nabizada Midfielder 3 goals 0 assists
  2. Iker Bravo Midfielder 1 goals 1 assists
  3. Edo Kayembe Midfielder 1 goals 1 assists
  4. Mamadou Doumbia Forward 1 goals 0 assists
  5. Luca Kjerrumgaard Forward 1 goals 0 assists

Playing time and form

Who has played the most in recent weeks, and how have they performed?

Bristol City

Player Starts Min. Form
Sam Tickle 5/5 450 poor
Lisav Naif Eissat 5/5 450 solid
Jason Knight 5/5 450 solid
Rio Cardines 5/5 438 strong
Rob Dickie 5/5 436 strong
Lorent Tolaj 5/5 397 solid
Scott Twine 5/5 396 mixed
Yu Hirakawa 4/5 311 mixed

Watford

Player Starts Min. Form
Federico Ravaglia 5/5 450 strong
Kévin Keben 5/5 450 poor
Mattie Pollock 5/5 450 solid
Hector Kyprianou 5/5 450 mixed
Iker Bravo 4/5 372 solid
Edo Kayembe 3/5 324 solid
Othmane Maamma 4/5 308 mixed
Mamadou Doumbia 3/5 306 mixed

Pre-match prediction

Pre-match goals forecast
1.14 1.18
  • Predicted goals1.8
  • Both teams to score33%
  • Over 2.5 goals17%
  • Corners10.7

Team comparison

BRC home Per match WAT away
1.00 Points 0.33
0.67 Goals for 0.33
1.33 Goals against 1.33
1.14 xG for 1.18
1.51 xG against 1.48
7.3 Corners 3.3
LWL Home and away form DLL

Bristol City vs Watford: head-to-head record

25 previous meetings
7 Bristol City 9 draws 9 Watford
  • Goals per match2.96
  • Both teams scored56%
  • Over 2.5 goals48%
  • Feb 2026 Bristol City 1 - 2 Watford
  • Jan 2026 Bristol City 5 - 1 Watford
  • Nov 2025 Watford 1 - 1 Bristol City
  • Apr 2025 Bristol City 2 - 1 Watford
  • Nov 2024 Watford 1 - 0 Bristol City
  • Jan 2024 Bristol City 1 - 1 Watford
  • Dec 2023 Watford 1 - 4 Bristol City
  • Apr 2023 Watford 2 - 0 Bristol City
  • Nov 2022 Bristol City 0 - 0 Watford
  • Feb 2021 Watford 6 - 0 Bristol City

Frequently asked questions

When will the line-up for Bristol City vs Watford be announced?

Predicted line-ups will appear on this page a few days before the match. Confirmed teams usually follow around an hour before kick-off, scheduled for .

Who is unavailable for Bristol City against Watford?

Bristol City are without Brian De Keersmaecker (shoulder injury) and Luke McNally (knee injury).

Who is unavailable for Watford against Bristol City?

Watford are without Branimir Mlačić (not registered), Edoardo Bove (knee injury), Jack Grieves (lacking match fitness), Jeremy Ngakia (thigh injury), Kwadwo Baah (knock) and Myron Boadu (injury). The full list is above, with the injuries and suspensions.

What formation do Bristol City play?

Bristol City have used a 4-2-3-1 formation in their last 5 matches under Skubala.

What formation do Watford play?

Watford have used a 4-2-3-1 formation in their last 5 matches under Dionisi.

How did the last meeting between Bristol City and Watford finish?

On 27 February 2026, Bristol City vs Watford finished 1-2.

Other matches from matchday 8 of the Championship