MX23RW : Monday, November 25 15:46:00| >> :120:21717:21717:
[monks data]
Attendance: 30,387
Cardiff City logo
Premier League | Gameweek 27
Feb 22, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Watford logo

1-5

Bamba (82')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Deulofeu (18', 61', 63'), Deeney (73', 91')

Gracia wants Watford to be as hungry for points as Cardiff in Friday's encounter

Gracia wants Watford to be as hungry for points as Cardiff in Friday's encounter
© Reuters
The Hornets are sitting comfortably in eighth place.

Watford manager Javi Gracia has challenged his players to be as hungry for points as relegation-battlers Cardiff in their Premier League clash on Friday night.

The Hornets are sitting comfortably in eighth place, just two points behind Wolves, and have secured a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Cardiff, meanwhile, are scrapping to drag themselves clear of the relegation dogfight, with successive victories having moved them up to 17th.

Neil Warnock's men, though, are just a point above the drop zone and could well find themselves back in the bottom three should results go against them this weekend.

Gracia does not want to see any complacency from his team when they head to Wales on the back of a run of just one defeat in their last 10 matches in all competitions.

"We are looking forward to the game and making a big effort. Cardiff need the points and I must convince my players we need them as well. We have to show it," the Watford manager said.

"I know how difficult it will be for us to win on Friday.

"It will be a demanding game as they are in their best moment of the season after winning two games (in a row). Playing there will be difficult.

"They have changed something, with some players, some players in other positions. They have another balance and now they are competing better."

Watford expect to have forward Roberto Pereyra available following a calf problem, which saw him miss the past three games.

Friday will be the first home match for Cardiff since the body of Emiliano Sala was recovered from the English Channel and returned to his native Argentina for a funeral.

Bluebirds manager Warnock was among the representatives of the Welsh club to attend the service for Sala.

The 28-year-old was killed when the private plane bringing him to Cardiff crashed into the English Channel on January 21, just two days after his record move to the Premier League side. Lincolnshire pilot David Ibbotson remains missing, presumed dead.

Tributes have been paid across football, and Gracia says Cardiff will have Watford's support if they need it.

"We like to be respectful with the team, with Cardiff and with the families because, for them, it's a difficult moment," Gracia said at a press conference reported by the club.

"We are going to a game and we will come back to our lives, so the most difficult thing is clearly for the family.

"I want us to show our respect and that's all we can do in this difficult moment. If they need our support, they know they will have it."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '602c5c9f-4d6b-4bcb-a1ba-5643455e7474');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Gracia wants Watford to be as hungry for points as Cardiff in Friday\u2019s encounter'});

ID:351001: cacheID:351001:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5176:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
A general shot of a Premier League football ahead of the Premier League clash between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 30, 2016
Read Next:
Breakdancing to be considered for Paris 2024 Olympics
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds1695228121632
2Sunderland1695226121432
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
4Burnley168621961330
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
7Watford168262524126
8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!