Bristol City vs Watford live updates

To wrap up, here's our match report

Well that was an enjoyable evening. Bristol City are into the FA Cup fourth round and they have managed to get there in some style, courtesy of an Emil Riis hat-trick and goals from Anis Mehmeti and Rob Atkinson. In the end, it was all rather comfortable.

We're just about to turn in for the night. We will have plenty of reaction to come both tomorrow and over the start of next week. Until then, I hope you all have a good rest of your weekend.

For now, you can read our match report HERE...

Our video verdict on today's win

I've just about managed to thaw out having made it home, and you can here my initial thoughts below.

Video verdict from me after #BristolCity’s near perfect start to their FA Cup campaign.

So much to like about the Robins today. Riis superb, Morsy excellent and Earthy bright off the bench.

Into the fourth round hat, and back to winning ways. pic.twitter.com/kA63aOulfn

— Dan Carter (@DanCarterJourno) January 10, 2026

The head coach's reaction

We said we'd heard from a very, very happy Gerhard Struber and we can bring you the first bit of reaction from the Robins head coach. He was full of praise for his whole team, but quick to credit Emil Riis in particular as he shed some light on what he'd said to him in their pre-match conversation.

You can read all of that HERE...

Player ratings have landed at Ashton Gate

We have heard from a rather happy Gerhard Struber at Ashton Gate and while we type up the head coach's reaction, you can read our player ratings from BS3, where Emil Riis was the star but everyone in red and white impressed.

You can read those ratings HERE...

Those full-time scenes involving George Earthy

Full-time: #BristolCity 5-1 Watford

Emil Riis’ first City hat-trick as well as goals from Anis Mehmeti and Rob Atkinson have the Robins in the fourth round.

It’s George Earthy who gives Section 82 their fist bumps on his return. Lovely assist for Riis’ third. pic.twitter.com/NX8IXJME8A

— Dan Carter (@DanCarterJourno) January 10, 2026

Full-time: Bristol City 5-1 Watford

The Robins are into the fourth round and they are in there in style as an Emil Riis hat-trick as well as goals from Anis Mehmeti and Rob Atkinson are the difference on a cold, cold evening at Ashton Gate. It wasn't easy all the way through, but it ended up being rather comfortable.

We'll have reaction from Ashton Gate here...

Two minutes added on

We don't have too much additional time to play here and I think the Watford players will be thankful for that.

Flag up against Borges

Nothing comes of that free-kick and in the moments that follow, Borges is judged to have drited offside.

City free-kick

Watford are able to deal with the initial corner but the Robins quickly win a free-kick out on the right wing, almost level with the Watford box.

City corner

Armstrong's low cross is blocked behind for a City corner...

Final Bristol City change

That is Emil Riis' evening over and what an evening it has been. He makes way for Sinclair Armstrong with around seven minutes or so left to play.

Into the side netting

At least Lumley's mistake isn't punished. Watford curl the resulting free-kick into the side netting and the goalkeeper can watch it well wide of his post.

Joe Lumley enters the book

The Bristol City goalkeeper is a lucky, lucky boy here. He comes flying off of his line and takes down Irankunda on the corner of his penalty area. The referee gives a free-kick and only opts to book the stopper.

GOAL! Bristol City 5-1 Watford [Riis]

He grabs his hat-trick! George Earthy slips a superb pass beyond the Watford backline and Riis breaks towards the goal before lifting over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. That is another lovely, lovely goal and a brilliant finish.

The Robins are cruising.

Goal! Bristol City 4-1 Watford [Grieves]

The Hornets pull one back. A powerful run down the left wing has the away side in a dangerous area and they cut the ball back to the edge of the penalty area where Grieves is able to turn beyond Lumley and home.

Another City change

We've lost our bearings here. The Robins have made another change while we've been updating the scoreboard as Yu Hirakawa comes on in place of Atkinson.

GOAL! Bristol City 4-0 Watford [Riis]

WHAT A GOAL THAT IS! Joe Lumley has a big part to play in it as he kicks out to Neto Borges on the left wing and the Brazilian brings it down superbly before turning and steering through to Riis excellently.

Riis calmly tucks into the bottom right corner to send Ashton Gate into celebration. That is a very, very, very good goal.

GOAL! Bristol City 3-0 Watford [Atkinson]

There's the third! Twine is the man to take the resulting free-kick and he curls an excellent ball high into the sky and onto the head of Rob Atkinson who has risen like a salmon inside the penalty area.

The defender heads into the back of the net with his first touch and that will be that I'd think. It would take something remarkable for Watford to come back now.

Earthy fouled on the left wing

The Hammers loanee goes to ground under a challenge on the left wing, level with the penalty area, and the Robins have a free-kick.

Randell passes in search of Vyner

The Robins have tried to play some really nice stuff here this evening. Randell slots a clever through ball inside the Watford right-back for Vyner to chase and while he sets off well, he can only block a clearance behind for a goal kick.

Moments later, Earthy's cross from the right wing is nodded over the bar by Riis, who was always going to struggle to hit the target from the range he was stationed at.

Triple change for Watford

As we hit the hour mark, Watford are making changes of their own. Sissoko makes way for Bola, Louza is off for Baah and Bola is on for Pollock. Those changes were greeted by cheers from the away end while the home fans chant about going to Wembley.

Foul on Borges and a yellow card

Abankwah goes into the book after he catches Borges in the face down on the left wing. That is the first yellow card of the afternoon but the Watford man will need to tread carefully from here on in.

Riis blazes over and triple change for Bristol City

Riis blazes over the bar from close range and here he is then. With his song being sung well by Section 82, George Earthy is introduced. The West Ham loanee takes to the field in place of Sam Bell while Scott Twine is also on, replacing Anis Mehmeti. Oh, there is going to be one more change as well, with Adam Randell on in place of Jason Knight.

Well across from Atkinson

That is routine defending from the City man, but deserves credit. Dickie is beaten for pace down the left and Atkinson steps across well to both tackle his man and put the ball out of play for a throw-in. It is simple, but deserves plenty of credit.

Bell crosses in again

This isn't quite as good a ball from Bell. The forward fashions space for himself on the right of the pitch and aims to whip a cross into the area, but it lands straight into the hands of Baxter. The Robins have started this half well.

Sam Bell does really well!

That could have been that! Sam Bell does well to pick Watford's pocket deep inside the Hornets' half and breaks towards the byline on the right side of the area. He flashes a low cross across the face of goal in hope that Mehmeti will turn home, but the winger can't get the touch required.

That's a positive start to the second half, however.

We're back underway at Ashton Gate!

The second half is underway in BS3 and neither side has made a change during the interval. The Robins may mix things up soon, I'd imagine, but they'll be keen to kill this game off as a contest first.

We'll bring you all the second half action here...

The Robins are back out

It doesn't look as though Gerhard Struber has made any changes at the break.

Half-time: Bristol City 2-0 Watford

That will be that for the opening period at Ashton Gate and at the interval the Robins are comfortably ahead. Goals from Emil Riis and Anis Mehmeti are the difference at the break and while Watford have had their own chances, the Reds have certainly been the better of the two teams.

Struber will be keen to kill this one off early in the second period.

Riis clears... in the end

The forward does enough, even if he did slice his clearance, to clear the Robins' lines following the corner.