Watford 3 - Bristol City 0: Beaten Robins turn attention to Man City
BRISTOL CITY crashed out of the FA Cup then sent a message of hope to millions who will be willing them to produce another giant killing at Manchester City on Tuesday.
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Assistant coach Dean Holden stepped out after a disappointing show at Watford with a pledge to the world: "We'll do you proud again."
Holden said: "We've earned a lot of plaudits and the Manchester United win put us on a global level.
"We are coming up against one of the best teams in the world on Tuesday and it will be very difficult. But we are going there with 8,000 fans behind us, and we're going to give it a real go."
Then, in the knowledge, that virtually everyone except Manchester City fans - all over the world as well on TV - will be Bristol City supporters for a night, Holden promised to make the fans proud.
He went on: "It has been an incredible run and we want it to go on, and we want to make sure the second leg at Ashton Gate is still a competitive one. Tuesday is going to be a great night for the club.
"Anything can happen on the night, the players are ready and raring to go, and we are going to go there with a lot of heart."
Holden justified the decision to include four Academy players, saying: "The FA Cup is the biggest competition in the world, and we wanted to win at Watford. But we had to make decisions on who could go today and on Tuesday."
There never seemed much chance of his Championship giantkillers repeating their League Cup win over Watford earlier in the season. All eyes seemed to be on The Etihad in 72 hours time.
Key saves by keeper Luke Steele rescued a Bristol side that looked nothing like the one that toppled Manchester United 2-1 in the League Cup. The only surprise was that it took Watford 36 minutes to score.
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Andre Carrillo got that and any prospect of Watford failing to win their fifth consecutive FA Cup game at Vicarage Road looked a long way off when they left for their half time Bovril!
City cup hero Korey Smith was duly wrapped in cotton wool and substituted, presumably to save him for Tuesday and the contest should have been over five minutes after the restart when Roberto Pereyra crashed a terrific strike against the bar.
City's luck finally ran out soon afterwards, however, when Troy Deeney grabbed a deserved second goal and a lead they rarely looked like overturning.Etienne Capoue wrapped it up five minutes from time.
Watford: Gomes 6; Janmaat 6, Wague 6, Kabasele 6, Zeegelaar 6 Cleverley,7, Doucoure 6 (Watson 80), Carrillo 7 (Richarlison 70) 5, Capoue 6, Pereyra 6 (Holebas 70) 5; Deeney 6.
Bristol City: Steele 7; Vyner 5, Flint 6, Magnusson 6, Kelly 5; Edwards 5, Smith 5 (Pack 45) Lemonheigh-Evans 5, Eliasson 5; Taylor 5( Engvall 63) 5, Woodrow 5 (Hinds 77) 6.
