Watford left to rue missed chances

Watford's five-game unbeaten league run came to an end at Vicarage Road on Saturday as Josh Bowler's wonder strike got Cardiff City back to winning ways.

After a rather tame first half with few opportunities, the Bluebirds found the breakthrough on 43 minutes as right winger Bowler jinked his way past two players on the edge of the area and hit a curling effort which flew into the top corner.

The goal, which seemed to spark the game into life, saw Watford push for the equaliser in the second half - with Cardiff very much playing on the backfoot but looking threatening on the counter.

The home side had their chances but spurned them. Asprilla fired a shot over, Dennis couldn't find the net from a tight angle, but perhaps the best opportunity fell to Kone whose deflected shot from close range hit the post.

The result means that the Hornets slip down to 13th in the Championship and miss out on closing the gap on those teams in the playoff places. Meanwhile the visitors move to within one point of them.

Next up for Watford is a difficult away trip to Southampton in the FA Cup on Tuesday night and then an even trickier home match against table-toppers Leicester City in the league on Saturday.