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Ballard heads Bristol City past Watford as they climb to fifth

Bristol City halted a two-game losing streak by edging Watford 1-0 on Friday evening to jump into fifth place in the Championship standings. Dominic Ballard settled the contest in the 31st minute at Ashton Gate, directing a backwards header into the net courtesy of Rio Cardines' inswinging delivery, which marked the provider's sixth assist of the campaign.

The visitors, contending with extensive player absences under manager Alessio Dionisi, remain trapped in the lower tier of the division having captured only a single point away from home this season. Both sides endured penalty appeals that were waved away by the referee, including a Watford challenge on Atkinson during the first half and late claims by Boadu for a shirt pull, leaving Michael Skubala's squad to enter the upcoming international break firmly in the play-off spots.

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