Watford boss assesses City loss with view on penalty decision shared

The Hornets entered the first international break of the campaign on a losing note as they were beaten 1-0 by the Robins on Friday evening. In a close, but entertaining, contest at Ashton Gate, Dom Ballard's first-half goal proved the difference as City got back to winning ways.

Michael Skubala's side's winner came just a minute after the half-hour mark. Having been picked out inside the Watford penalty area by a wicked Rio Cardines cross from the left wing, Ballard steered into the far corner with a flicked header to score his first BS3 goal.

The Reds had chances to stretch their advantage further over the remainder of the contest, but defended well to limit the visitors to just two shots on target. In spite of that fact, Dionisi felt his injury-hit group would have been good value for a point.

Asked if he felt his side deserved a draw at Ashton Gate, the Hornets boss told BBC Three Counties Radio, "Probably yes, but this is the result. In this moment, it's not easy for us.

"I'm not happy with the result, but my team today played at the maximum, because at the start there were six young players. It's not easy to play away against Bristol, against every club, but this is the situation and the result doesn't arrive.

"My team played differently to the last match against Stoke City, for example, but it's not easy because I wanted to change between one match and the other match. But it's impossible in this moment, because we have few players and every match, a lot of the players - the line-up - is the same.

"I'm sorry because, in this moment, my team is different in respect to probably when we arrive in the future and when I think of the future. But before the start, I spoke with my club and for us, it was better to wait until the last minute of the market.

"Now it's important to arrive to the international break, because it's important to recover a lot of players."

Though City were ultimately able to see out the three points rather comfortably, with Hector Kyprianou and Stephy Mavididi's second-half strikes the efforts on goal that called Sam Tickle into action, there was a moment late on that will have left some hearts in mouths.

With a little over three minutes of regulation time to play, Myron Boadu went to ground inside the Reds' penalty area under a challenge from Noah Eile. On replay, it does seem as though the City defender had a handful of the Hornets substitute's shirt.

Referee Oliver Langford, who received a mixed reception from the Ashton Gate crowd throughout the evening, adjudged that there wasn't enough contact for a spot kick. Though the Watford boss had sympathy for the official's situation, he felt that was likely the wrong decision.

"Yes," Dionisi replied when asked if he felt his side could have had a penalty in the second period. "I watched, and probably that was, but I don't like to speak about these situations because there isn't VAR.

"It's not easy for referees, but - for example - four minutes at the end, for me, is not correct. But it's this and the penalty; probably there was, because I watched it [again].

"But I accept [the decision]."

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