Cardiff City dropped important points in the race for the play-off positions in the Championship on Saturday afternoon, as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Watford. 

The Bluebirds took the lead in this one though, as an own goal from Francisco Sierralta gave Mick McCarthy's side the ideal start in the game after just 13 minutes.

But Watford wasted no time in working their way back into the game, as Nathaniel Chalobah equalised just two minutes later. Adam Masina then hit a late winner for Xisco Munoz's side in the fourth minute of stoppage-time, to condemn Mick McCarthy to his first defeat since taking charge of Cardiff.

Things almost boiled over at the full-time whistle though, with a number of players from both teams involved in a disagreement after Watford's winner.

Speaking in a post-match press conference (quotes sourced from Dai-Sport), the Cardiff City boss vented his frustrations at the scenes at full-time, with Sierralta being singled out for his role on the melee on the touchline which also saw Aden Flint having to be restrained by his team-mates.

"There was a guy who got booked for fouling Flinty in the box. He just ran and screamed in his face and ran off like a big coward.

"Maybe if you go and push Flinty you should stand up and see the recriminations. I’m glad he didn’t! Because Flinty might have boxed him one and he would have had a red card.

"Listen, I understand their celebrations at the end of the game, but I do think it’s good to be magnanimous in victory as well."

Cardiff are set to return to action in midweek, when they prepare to take on Stoke City, in what could potentially be a tricky test for the Bluebirds on Tuesday evening.

The Verdict: 

You can understand his frustration with this one.

Cardiff had chances to win the game on the day, and it'll be bitterly disappointing to see Watford snatch all three points right at the end of the match.

Sierralta's celebrations weren't great though, and it wasn't good to see things almost boil over on Saturday afternoon in a game that could go a long way in deciding whether Cardiff finish in the top-six or not.

I do fear that other teams will just pull further clear of them with a tricky run of fixtures still to come for the Bluebirds, and they might be leaving it too late to push for the play-off positions this term.