8th August 2023- League Cup First Round, Stevenage 1 Watford 1 (no extra time, Watford lost 4-3 on penalties)

Digital programme only. Download here
Attendance: 4,495
https://www.watfordfc.com/match-report/match-report-stevenage-1-1-watford-4-3-pens

BBC: League One Stevenage secured a place in the second round of the Carabao Cup by beating Watford on penalties. The tie was level at 1-1 after 90 minutes after Josh March equalised for the hosts to cancel out Vakoun Bayo’s opener. And Nathan Thompson scored the winning penalty for Stevenage in the shootout.

Watford Observer: Live Feed

Watford had the better of the second half and on another day would have won the tie, but for two superb saves from home keeper Kristian Hegyi.

It’s very rare to see just one change made by a team from a league game to a first round cup tie, but head coach Valerien Ismael felt he needed to get more minutes into players while not giving them mixed messages.

BHappy:Not that we played badly exactly… by the traditions of League Cup first round football this was a feast for the eyes.  But we were too easily shackled, too easily negated, too easily disheartened in the first half, more than anything.  The equaliser, when it came, had been coming.

Fran’s Watford Blog: After the bright start on Saturday, this was a disappointing performance from the Hornets.  The second half had been considerably better than the first and the change to three at the back sparked a very good spell during which Watford dominated and should have scored a winner.  Stevenage keeper, Hegyi, was the difference, making two magnificent saves and saving Healey’s penalty.  There were encouraging signs.  Martins had another decent game creating some good chances.  Both Morris and Andrews did well.  Hamer was all right, but his distribution was appalling.  But the takeaway from the game was that the Hornets still struggle when playing a physical team who give them no space.  If they are going to do anything this season, they need to learn how to play such teams.  If there is any positive from this defeat it is that it has highlighted a problem that we need to work on and it will allow us to concentrate on the league.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023%E2%80%9324_EFL_Cup