Manchester City 2, Watford 1 (Carabao Cup 3rd Round)
Goals by Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes eased Manchester City into the last 16 of the Carabao Cup against Watford.
Watford got a late consolation through Tom Ince and threatened to take it to penalties late on against a much changed City side – including a debut for Kaden Braithwaite (aged 16 years and 229 days) but they held on for the win.
This was a game for players to get match fitness and perhaps stake a claim for a starting spot after City’s inevitable tactical reshuffle following the knee injury sustained by Rodri against Arsenal.
Any thoughts of repeating Sunday’s heroics by the Gunners were dispelled after just 5 minutes when a loose back pass by Ryan Porteous to Jonathan Bond was intercepted by James McAtee who quickly recycled the ball to Jack Grealish who set up Doku for the opening goal after he created space for a shot which went in.
Kwadwoh Baah thought he had equalised for Watford after 21 minutes when he cut inside from the right, barged over Braithwaite and fired past Ortega but the goal was immediately ruled out for a foul on the City teenager.
But City had their second goal when McAtee won the ball again and found Rico Lewis who set up Matheus Nunes for a 20 yard shot which curled inside the near post.
Watford went close just once, shortly before half time, when Vakoun Bayo beat Kyle Walker in the air but could only head a left wing cross wide.
City had a trio of blocked chances from Nunes, Lewis, and half time substitute Savinho, on for Doku, whose shot came off the head of Tom Ince on the line.
But for all their possession City still conceded a late goal – with Tom Ince taking on a through ball before curling the ball past Stefan Ortega.
This gave the Hornets a glimmer of hope but despite a late surge City held on for the win.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 2, Watford 1 (Carabao Cup 3rd Round)
Stefan Ortega: 6. Faced just one effort in the first half – a header that went wide. Watford tested him a little more but was beaten by a wonderful Tom Ince goal.
Kyle Walker: 6. Given a chance to atone for his errors against Arsenal, played at right centre back. Outmuscled by Vakoun Bayo whose header went wide.
John Stones: 6. Calming presence at the back.
Kaden Braithwaite: 6. Surprise debut for the 16 year old at left back. Was fouled as Kwadwoh Baah scored a goal that was ruled out.
Rico Lewis: 7. Got forward a lot from his inverted right full back role. Set up Matheus Nunes for his goal. Great ball to James McAtee in the second half.
Nico O’Reilly: 7. Filling in for Rodri – big boots to fill and nerves might have been understandable. Pot shot in the second half went just wide.
James McAtee: 8. Intelligent pressing in midfield. Beat Jonathan Bond to the ball from a short Watford back pass and won the ball for City’s second goal too. Heavy first touch denied him a prime shooting chance in the second half.
Matheus Nunes: 8. Made the most of a rare chance. Battled for the ball and took his long range goal well.
Jack Grealish: 8. Dangerous down the left flank, creating multiple chances and winning free kicks. Deserved a goal late on but denied by Jonathan Bond.
Jeremy Doku: 7. Had some fun on the right wing against a more modest defence. Profited from lax defending by Watford to open the scoring with a simple trick to create space.
Phil Foden: 6. False 9 role with Erling Haaland given the night off. Shot wide early on and hit the wall with a free kick. Had a couple of shots blocked in the second half and a great long range effort saved by Jonathan Bond but gave the ball away for a great Watford chance which was out wide by Kwadwo Baah.
Savinho (on for Jeremy Doku, 46): 6. Hit the side netting and had a fierce goal bound effort come off Tom Ince’s head on the line. Solo run and shot deserved better than a shot off the post.
Jacob Wright (on for Nico O’Reilly, 73): 6. His chance to impress in midfield.
Josko Gvardiol (on for Kaden Brathwaite, 76): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester City 2, Watford 1 (Carabao Cup 3rd Round)
Man City 1, Watford 0: 5. Jeremy Doku created space for himself and fired in the opening goal after James McAtee nicked the ball from Ryan Porteous’s short back pass to Jonathan Bond, recycled to Jack Grealish who squared to the Belgian.
Man City 2, Watford: 0: 38. Matheus Nunes struck a curling low shot from 20 yards out after James McAtee won the ball again and recycled it to Rico Lewis to set up the Portuguese midfielder.
Man City 2, Watford 1: 86. Tom Ince curled in a late long range goal for Watford after he was played in by Giorgi Chakvetadze – the Hornets’ first shot on target.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 2, Watford 1 (Carabao Cup 3rd Round)
Man City: Ortega, Walker (C), Stones, Braithwaite (Gvardiol 76), Lewis, O’Reilly (Wright 73), McAtee, Nunes, Grealish, Doku (Savinho 46), Foden
Man City Subs not used: Ederson, Akanji, Gundogan, Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Dias
Goals: Doku 5; Nunes 38
Watford: Bond, Sema (C), Ogbonna, Porteous, Morris, Baah, Ebosele (Pollock 76), Larouchi (Dele-Bashiru 60), Ince, Louza (Dwomoh 83), Bayo (Chakvetadze 60)
Watford Subs not used: Marriott, Adu-Poku, Doumbia, Tikvic, Vata
Goal: Ince 86
Referee: David Webb