Cardiff City have an opportunity to continue their ascent up the Championship table when they head to Watford on Saturday afternoon.

The Bluebirds have won their last two games without conceding and are exactly midway in the division, seven points behind next opponents Watford.

Match preview

Neil Harris admitted a little over a week ago that he was fighting for his job on the back of Cardiff's dismal 1-0 loss at lowly Coventry City.

That left City in 18th place and nine points off the playoff zone, with one win in eight matches at the time.

However, they have since brushed aside Luton Town 4-0 and Huddersfield Town 3-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium to move up to 12th, now six points off the playoffs.

Harris's men now have back-to-back away trips to sides also battling for promotion, Watford and Stoke City, before a tasty South Wales derby against high-flying Swansea City.

Whereas Cardiff have finally started to find some momentum, Watford have drawn three of their last four games, two of those without scoring.

The Hornets could not find a way past Nottingham Forest on Wednesday evening, the City Ground stalemate seeing them miss out on top spot.

Vladimir Ivic's side are still well positioned in third, one point off leaders Norwich City and unbeaten in their last five games.

Watford have won more home points than any other side in the Championship this season, meanwhile, and have scored the most home goals in the division (16).

They have also won their last three league meetings with the Bluebirds, including a double in the 2018-19 Premier League, and rightly enter this match as the favourites.

Watford Championship form: WWDDWD

Cardiff City Championship form: WLDLWW

Team News

Ivic stuck with a 4-4-2 formation against Forest, spearheaded by captain Troy Deeney and Joao Pedro.

Watford fired a blank in that one, and Deeney is not exactly 100% fit, but Andre Gray is nursing a hamstring injury so Ivic may persist with the pair.

Ken Sema, Etienne Capoue and Tom Cleverley all missed that most recent game and are not expected to play any part this weekend.

As for the visitors, Harris stuck with an unchanged XI for the victories over Luton and Huddersfield, with youngster Mark Harris making the most of his first-team opportunities.

Kieffer Moore scored in both games and now has four goals in his last four Championship games - more than he had in his first 11 appearances in the competition for Cardiff (3).

As tempted as Harris may be to stick with a winning formula, fatigue will surely be an issue and the likes of Marlon Pack, Robert Glatzel and Junior Hoilett are all eager for minutes.

Watford possible starting lineup:
Foster; Ngakia, Troost-Ekong, Cathcart, Femenia; Sarr, Garner, Chalobah, Quina; Pedro, Deeney

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Smithies; Bacuna, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett; Wilson, Ralls, Pack, Ojo; Wilson, Glatzel

We say: Watford 1-0 Cardiff City

Watford have won six and drawn one of their seven home league matches this term, while Cardiff are winless in four on their travels, losing to Queens Park Rangers and Coventry in that run.

The Hornets also boast a strong recent record in this fixture so we are tipping them to come out on top at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Top betting tip

Previews by email