The game was postponed from 14th January.

Match Report: Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Watford (AET)

Watford lose FA Cup replay against Tranmere Rovers

Nigel Pearson said his Watford youngsters were introduced to ‘men’s football’ at Tranmere Rovers

Watford players rated after slipping out of FA Cup at Tranmere Rovers

Kaylen Hinds was proud to score on his Watford debut against Tranmere Rovers

Callum Whelan says Watford’s younger players can learn from Tranmere Rovers FA Cup defeat

Paul Mullin’ extra-time header set up an FA Cup clash with Man Utd for Tranmere after a 2-1 win over Watford at Prenton Park.

In a game rescheduled from earlier in the month because of a waterlogged pitch, Rovers capitalised on a hugely under-strength Hornets and best navigated a dire, sand-covered Prenton Park surface to finally settle the tie in extra time.

Pearson has made it clear Premier League survival is Watford’s priority and underlined that by making 11 changes from the side that lost at Aston Villa in midweek.

Nigel Pearson, to his credit, was gracious in defeat and blamed neither the poor playing surface nor his changes for the early exit, although the Watford manager was pointed in his criticism of some of the club’s young players who failed to seize their chance to impress. “Some of our young players thought they could just turn up in the first half,” he said. “You have to earn the right to play. It was a bit of a reality check for some. Welcome to the man’s game.”

In the cold light of day, while it had been a disappointing performance from the youngsters, it was not unexpected.  They had started brightly enough and there had been a few decent moments, but the Tranmere team were too strong for them and, ultimately, appeared to want it more.  Of the youngsters, Hinds did well when he came on and deserved his goal.  Spencer-Adams has looked promising in both games and Whelan had a decent second half.  Of the first-team players, Kabasele put in a decent shift, Holebas had a couple of very decent chances but looked unhappy to be there and Gray was mostly anonymous, which was very sad to see.

After two defeats midweek, there was no Watford game on the weekend. so Jon and Mike gathered to discuss two disappointing results, how the squad, in particular the young hornets who played against Tranmere. 

Match Report: Watford 3-3 Tranmere Rovers

Relive our coverage of Watford’s FA Cup clash with Tranmere Rovers

Watford lose three-goal interval lead against Tranmere Rovers in FA Cup

Nigel Pearson stresses Premier League priority for Watford after Tranmere Rovers FA Cup draw

Watford players rated against Tranmere Rovers in FA Cup third round

Nathaniel Chalobah urges Watford to take second Tranmere Rovers chance

Tom Dele-Bashiru blames concentration for Watford’s FA Cup draw with Tranmere Rovers

Watford successfully appeal Roberto Pereyra’s Tranmere Rovers FA Cup red card

Nigel Pearson said the FA Cup is “not a priority” as a much-changed Watford threw away a three-goal lead against Tranmere in Saturday’s third-round tie.

At half-time Watford were cruising to victory but had this match gone on any longer they would surely have lost. A full-pelt comeback from Tranmere Rovers saw the League One strugglers overturn a three-goal deficit against Premier League opponents to secure a replay at Prenton Park. As Rovers manager Micky Mellon put it: “You can see the quality of these teams, but if you get the momentum it doesn’t matter how good they are, it’s difficult to get it back.”

To compound the hosts’ misery, their two most “senior” players on the day, Chalobah and Pereyra will miss next weekend’s crunch league clash at Bournemouth. Chalobah picked up an injury and was withdrawn at half-time. Petulant Pereyra earned a ridiculous and stupid red card for lashing out at Kieron Morris a minute from time.

Thought number one is to ponder why Watford away is such a big pull for the support of a side struggling at the foot of League One, big respect in any case.  Thought number two is to ponder that most of those in the away end, even those over the age of 30, are probably completely oblivious of the significance afforded to what, to them, was probably a mundane away defeat here in 1999.  My god.  Thought number three is to wonder how many of our matchday squad weren’t even born in April 1999.  Answer:  eight.  Eight!  With Sarr and Callum Whelan babes in arms.  Thought number four is to Stop Thinking.

We had been coasting at half time and Rovers had been poor.  But the loss of Chalobah and then Quina changed the game and the whole of the second half seemed to be played with Watford on the back foot.  I briefly thought that it looked like one of those games that Liverpool used to play in the 80s when they would play for a draw in the first leg of a league cup game before battering the opposition in the second leg.  But those games were controlled 0-0 draws.  This game was quite baffling.  It has to be said that it was an opportunity for those who were on the fringes to show Pearson what they can do.  Sadly, I don’t think that Success or Gray did anything that would convince him to include them against Bournemouth.  However, Chalobah had another good outing, Dele-Bashiru looked excellent and João Pedro put in a decent showing.  The fitness problems of the fringe players was a cause for concern and they may find themselves with some extra routines in training.

The 3rd Round of the FA Cup is a magical day and when the hornets took on League 1 struggling Tranmere the game gave us pretty much everything. With a whole heap of changes, Jon, Jason, Colin and Mike discuss the players who took the opportunity put in front of them and those that, disappointingly, didn’t. Plus Jon has another FA Cup based game for you to play along with.