Follow live coverage as Watford face Cardiff City in the Championship today.
An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.
Relegation from the top flight last term means Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United are all back in the second tier this term and will be expected to push for play-off spots again at least, but so too will Norwich City, an improving Coventry and beaten play-off finalists Leeds United. At the other end of the table, Wayne Rooney is aiming to revive Plymouth’s fortunes after they narrowly avoided relegation last year, with Portsmouth and Derby the teams promoted from League One along with play-off final winners Oxford.
Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
Watford FC 1 - 2 Cardiff City FC
Watford vs Cardiff City
17:01Match ends, Watford 1, Cardiff City 2.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:58Second Half ends, Watford 1, Cardiff City 2.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:56Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:56Delay in match because of an injury Ryan Andrews (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:55Attempt missed. Francisco Sierralta (Watford) header from the centre of the box.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:55Mattie Pollock (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:53Yasser Larouci (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:49Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:49Attempt missed. Francisco Sierralta (Watford) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Tom Ince with a cross following a corner.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:49Corner, Watford. Conceded by Alex Robertson.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:49Substitution, Cardiff City. Rubin Colwill replaces Callum O'Dowda because of an injury.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:49Substitution, Cardiff City. Yakou Méïté replaces Cian Ashford.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:47Attempt missed. Dimitrios Goutas (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box following a set piece situation.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:47Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:47Delay in match because of an injury Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:47Ryan Andrews (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:46Foul by Ryan Andrews (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:45Attempt blocked. Daniel Jebbison (Watford) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:45Corner, Watford. Conceded by Joel Bagan.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:44Attempt missed. Edo Kayembe (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:40Jesper Daland (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:39Attempt missed. Daniel Jebbison (Watford) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Francisco Sierralta with a headed pass.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:37Joel Bagan (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:33Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Daniel Bachmann.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:33Attempt saved. Ollie Tanner (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:33Substitution, Cardiff City. Joel Bagan replaces Calum Chambers.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:33Daniel Jebbison (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:31Yasser Larouci (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:31Foul by Jesper Daland (Cardiff City).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:30Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:29Attempt saved. Moussa Sissoko (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:29Calum Chambers (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:29Francisco Sierralta (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:29Substitution, Watford. Tom Ince replaces Imrân Louza.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:29Attempt missed. Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Calum Chambers with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:28Foul by Yasser Larouci (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:27Substitution, Cardiff City. Ollie Tanner replaces Chris Willock because of an injury.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:27Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:22Delay in match because of an injury Chris Willock (Cardiff City).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:22Foul by Ryan Andrews (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:22Foul by Imrân Louza (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:22Attempt missed. Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jesper Daland with a cross following a set piece situation.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:22Imrân Louza (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:22Foul by Imrân Louza (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:19Attempt blocked. Imrân Louza (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Edo Kayembe.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:17Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:17Substitution, Watford. Daniel Jebbison replaces Vakoun Bayo.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:17Substitution, Watford. Festy Ebosele replaces Rocco Vata.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:17Delay in match because of an injury Chris Willock (Cardiff City).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:16Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:14Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:16Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Mattie Pollock.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:11Offside, Cardiff City. Callum Robinson is caught offside.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:09Corner, Watford. Conceded by Andy Rinomhota.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:06Moussa Sissoko (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:05Hand ball by Vakoun Bayo (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:04Second Half begins Watford 1, Cardiff City 2.
Watford vs Cardiff City
16:04Substitution, Watford. Francisco Sierralta replaces Ryan Porteous.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:49First Half ends, Watford 1, Cardiff City 2.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:47Foul by Edo Kayembe (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:46Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:46Attempt missed. Alex Robertson (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:43Goal! Watford 1, Cardiff City 2. Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cian Ashford.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:42Foul by Calum Chambers (Cardiff City).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:39Goal! Watford 1, Cardiff City 1. Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rocco Vata with a cross.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:38Attempt missed. Cian Ashford (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Callum Robinson with a cross.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:37Foul by Imrân Louza (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:31Corner, Watford. Conceded by Dimitrios Goutas.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:30Foul by Yasser Larouci (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:29Attempt blocked. Vakoun Bayo (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:23Vakoun Bayo (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:23Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:23Delay in match because of an injury Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:20Imrân Louza (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:20Foul by Alex Robertson (Cardiff City).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:19Foul by Ryan Porteous (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:17Attempt missed. Rocco Vata (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:14Foul by Edo Kayembe (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:09Foul by Edo Kayembe (Watford).
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:07Offside, Cardiff City. Chris Willock is caught offside.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:05Manolis Siopis (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:02Goal! Watford 0, Cardiff City 1. Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Watford vs Cardiff City
15:01First Half begins.
Watford vs Cardiff City
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Watford vs Cardiff City
13:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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