Image source, PA Media

The Robins are flying into the international break on a high, but there is very little buzz about the Hornets at present.

The next three weeks will be vital for both Michael Skubala and Alessio Dionisi as they seek to make their mark on their squads in their new roles.

Thanks for your company and all your messages this evening, what a way to start off three massive days of Championship football.

We'll be back at high noon tomorrow when, all being well, I'll be at The Den for the visit of West Ham to Millwall. Wish me luck.

Until then, rest up, it's going to be a big couple of days.

Watford

Watford boss Alessio Dionisi speaking to Sky Sports:

"I'm not happy for this result because in this moment we've lost four matches from the last five matches. It's not good, but we've arrived with a lot of problems because for a lot of matches we played with the same players and the same line-up. Today it's difficult to ask my other players."

On Watford's penalty appeal:

"It's difficult to see better but now I watch this situation and probably it was a penalty but there isn't VAR. I'm sorry for the result because today there were a lot of supporters and we are sorry for our supporters."

Saturday

• Cardiff v Charlton (12:30)
• Millwall v West Ham (12:30)
• Stoke v Sheffield United (12:30)
• Birmingham v Middlesbrough
• Burnley v Derby
• Lincoln v Swansea
• Portsmouth v Blackburn
• QPR v Preston
• Wrexham v Southampton

Sunday

• Wolves v West Brom (12:00)
• Norwich v Bolton (13:30)

Bristol City

Robins boss Michael Skubala told Sky Sports:

"I was really pleased. It's not easy after the couple of (defeats) we've had but we showed good resilience.

"I thought we showed some real intensity, moved it really well and looked threatening, especially in the first half.

"We challenged the group with the clean sheet and defending our box. It's long overdue. We should have had more.

"I made seven changes and it shows the depth of the squad."

On sitting fifth after eight games in a new job: "You always want to start well but it's a new group, some young signings, I'd have snapped your hand off for fifth after eight games, but we could have got some more results."

On Dom Ballard and Lorent Tolaj battling for a start in attack: "You want competition, you want them to score goals, you want them to hold up and press - you want these sort of decisions as a coach."

City are back in the top five and are just a point off the top of the table, until tomorrow at least.

Eight games in, you'd call that a decent start for new boss Michael Skubala.

Less so for Alessio Dionisi whose Hornets side are just four points above the drop zone with the sides below them all playing over the weekend.

He's been unable to pick his first choice XI yet this season but will hope to get some walking wounded back to fitness before their next game on 10 October.

Bristol City

Image source, Shutterstock

Robins matchwinner Dom Ballard told Sky Sports about his link-up with assist machine Rio Cardines: "We've got something going.

"It's going well. I'm buzzing to score the goal and even better the team got the win."

On his first home goal: "As a striker when you go to a new club you always want to get off the mark at a new stadium, to hear the roar at Ashton Gate was really special."

Ballard said the international break had come at a good time for City, adding: "Every day on the training pitch the gaffer is putting his things in.

"We've got three weeks off now and if you look back at our first period of games it's been really positive."

Sophie Hurcom
BBC Sport at Ashton Gate

After back-to-back defeats in the past seven days, that victory will have given Michael Skubala and Bristol City fans a huge lift going into the international break.

They weren't as clinical as he probably would have liked and at 1-0 it felt at times like Watford could have nicked an equaliser out of somewhere. But crucially they didn't, to give the Robins a first clean sheet under Skubala.

Four wins out of eight games makes things look a lot brighter for the Robins and gives Skubala plenty of food for thought before they travel to Charlton on 10 October.

As for Watford, they ended up with 64% possession and created 10 shots, although just two were on target and they end up with a fourth defeat in five games.

On this form it feels like Alessio Dionisi will be glad just to get his side back on the training pitch for a few weeks to regroup.

Derek Payne
Former Watford midfielder on BBC Three Counties Radio

There'll be huge frustrations from Watford. The players put a huge effort in but they should have put more tempo in early in the second half.

They should have had a penalty, but if we're being honest, did they do enough to warrant that? I don't think so.

They [Bristol City] had a bit more quality and Cardines comes to mind. He's been good for them, an assist king.

Bove is a real massive presence for Watford in the middle if he's out for eight weeks or something like that then he'll be a big miss. Central midfield is a real concern.

Gary Owers
Former Sunderland & Bristol City midfielder on BBC Radio Bristol

Image source, Shutterstock

First clean sheet of the season is a bonus.

Michael Skubala's celebrations at the end sums up what it means to him and the fans. I think the result this evening was always more important than the performance.

The team has put in a good shift and on the night they've done the job.

Image source, Shutterstock

All over.

Bristol City bounce back after two defeats this week to win at home, with a clean sheet, and jump back into the top five,

Watford's threadbare side lose for a fourth time in five matches,

Dom Ballard's fine glancing header from Rio Cardines' glorious cross just after the half-hour proved the difference, though both sides spurned chances to add to the scoring.

Lorent Tolaj, Joe WIlliams and Jason Knight went close for City and Luca Kjerremgaard and Amin Nabizada did likewise for Watford while both sides had strong penalty appeals waved away.

Tough times for the Hornets who desperately need the international break to get some players back, but the Robins go into the three-week sojourn on a high.

City deal with the initial corner but the follow-up is nodded out to Stephy Mavididi who takes a neat touch before unleashing a dipping volley from the edge of the box which is straight at keeper Sam Tickle.

Edo Kayembe's powerful strike cannons behind to give the Hornets a corner in the dying moments.

All the big guns are up.

Lorent Tolaj is also playing like he has a point to prove.

He cuts inside from the right and fizzes in a low shot from the edge of the box which stings the palms of Federico Ravaglia, who gathers at the second attempt.

FOUR added minutes for Watford to try to pinch a point.

Noah Eile and Adam Randell are heading off for the hosts with Gibson Yah and Lisaf Eissat coming on for the last knockings.

Myron Boadu goes to ground in the box as he tries to get an angled shot away and appeals to Oliver Langford that his shirt was being pulled by Noah Eile.

He's got a shout you know. Risky from the defender, but not sure the ref had a good view of it.

Rio Cardines has switched to right back and is causing problems in an attacking sense.

He links up well with Jason Knight, who produces a lovely nutmeg pass, and City have a corner, just their second of the night.

Cardines takes it and tries to whip it into the near post but Watford are wise to his game and it's cleared, as is Cardines' lofted follow-up.

Fine effort from Rio Cardines, from a long way out.

He bends it up and over the wall and brings it back down, but it's six inches over Federico Ravaglia's bar as the keeper flies to his right.

A seventh caution of the game as Mattie Pollock fells Lorent Tolaj in full flight 30 yards from goal.

Rio Cardines is having a look...

Image source, Shutterstock

What a chance.

Lorent Tolaj is sprung by a glorious ball over the top and manages to control the ball and bustle into the box but with only the keeper to beat he lashes high and wide.