FOOTBALLCarabao Cup 2nd Round
Watford 1-5 Peterborough United: Carabao Cup Match Report
Peterborough United thrash a youthful, heavily-rotated Watford side 5-1 at Vicarage Road to reach the Carabao Cup third round, with Harry Leonard scoring twice.
In this report
PETERBOROUGH UNITED knocked Watford out of the Carabao Cup with a 5-1 victory at Vicarage Road, in front of a crowd of 7,958. It was all Peterborough United as the League One outfit scored five goals, first through a Watford debutant own goal from centre half James Clarridge, then a Harry Leonard brace, before Bolu Shofowoke and Harrison Jones added further goals to complete an impressive win over a weakened Watford team. Watford pulled a goal back through Mamadou Doumbia in the 73rd minute, heading home from close range after an assist from Amin Nabizada.
Watford came into the game off the back of a Carabao Cup first round home win over Crawley Town, a Championship home win over Southampton, and a 1-1 draw away at Wrexham. Peterborough United arrived having beaten Bristol Rovers away in the first round, lost 2-0 at Bradford City in League One, and beaten Mansfield Town 2-1 at home.
Watford manager Alessio Dionisi made eleven changes from the side that started at Wrexham, fielding a back four making their first team debuts, the second youngest side in the club's Pozzo era. Peterborough manager Luke Williams made six changes from the win over Mansfield Town.
Timeline of key events
- 3'
Harrison Jones volley from a Liam Kelly corner saved by Daniel Bachmann
- 10'
0-1 Clarridge (o.g.). - turns into his own net under pressure from Leonard
- 13'
Harry Leonard right-footed effort just over the bar
- 16'
Rocco Vata shot blocked by George Nevett
- 23'
0-2 Leonard. - fires home after Watford's left flank is undone
- 27'
Watford's first corner of the game, taken by Vata
- 33'
Vata shoots wide from the right
- 35'
Vata's shot saved at the second attempt by Alex Bass
- 38'
Martin Payero fires over from 20 yards
- 42'
Edo Kayembe shot high and wide
- 44'
Ben Woods free kick saved by Bachmann
- Half time:
Watford 0 Peterborough United 2
- 46'
Vata off, Nabizada on; London off, Keban on for Watford
- 46'
Masara off, Ethan Williams on for Peterborough United
- 49'
Leonard header saved by Bachmann
- 51'
0-3 Leonard. - chipped finish over the advancing Bachmann
- 54'
0-4 Shofowoke. - close-range tap-in
- 57'
Ramirez-Espain off, Kyprianou on for Watford
- 62'
Kayembe shot blocked; Clarridge fires wide from 8 yards moments later
- 64'
0-5 Jones. - finish from an acute angle, assist by Woods
- 65'-66'
Peterborough make four changes: Kelly, Leonard, Mills, Woods off; Johnston, Kamara, Conn-Clarke, Mendonca on
- 66'
Clarridge, Payero off; Bove, Mamma on for Watford
- 73'
1-5 Doumbia. - close-range header, assist by Nabizada
- 79'
Ethan Williams strikes the crossbar
- 80'
Doumbia hits the crossbar at the other end
- 83'
Nevitt booked; Kayembe free kick on the edge of the area
- Full time:
Watford 1 Peterborough United 5
Peterborough forced an early corner and went ahead in the 10th minute, Clarridge turning into his own net under pressure from Leonard, who was inches away from doubling the lead moments later with an effort just over the bar. Watford responded through two quickfire Doumbia chances, before Rocco Vata had a shot blocked as the hosts began to find a foothold.
Peterborough doubled their lead in the 23rd minute as Leonard fired home after Watford were undone down the left. Watford forced their first corner soon after through Vata, and continued to press before the break, with Vata seeing a shot saved at the second attempt and Martin Payero firing over from 20 yards. Edo Kayembe also drew a smart save from Alex Bass with a stinging free kick as Watford searched for a way back before half time, with Daniel Bachmann needed at the other end to deny Ben Woods from a Posh set piece.
Peterborough led 2-0 at the break and were the better side throughout the first half. Dionisi made a double change at the interval, bringing on Nabizada and Kevin Keban, while Williams introduced Ethan Williams for Peterborough.
Leonard scored his second of the game in the 51st minute, chipping delicately over the advancing Bachmann to make it 3-0, before Shofowoke tapped in a simple fourth three minutes later. Watford were forced into a further change as Hector Kyprianou, a former Peterborough player, replaced Leo Ramirez-Espain. Jones completed the rout in the 64th minute, firing home from an acute angle after more good work from Woods.
Watford finally got on the scoresheet in the 73rd minute through Doumbia's close-range header, and almost added a second when Ethan Williams struck the crossbar at the other end before Doumbia himself hit the woodwork moments later. Neither side found another goal as Peterborough held on comfortably to complete the win.
Watford's wider problems extend beyond the result, with the club needing reinforcements at centre half and full back before the transfer deadline. Watford return to Championship action against West Ham United at Vicarage Road on Saturday, while Peterborough United travel to Blackpool in League One.
Match statistics
| Metric | Watford | Peterborough United |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 5 |
| Yellow Cards | 0 | 1 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Attendance | 7,958 | - |
Possession, shots, passing and fouls: official match data issued in the press box. Expected goals: third party provider, as published. Saves counted at the ground and verified against the team sheet.
Match details
- Competition
- Carabao Cup 2nd Round
- Venue
- Vicarage Road, Watford
- Attendance
- 7,958
- Referee
- Isaac Searle - Assistant Referees: Lee Venamore, Sam Weston - 4th Official: Dean Whitestone
- Watford (4-2-3-1)
- Bachmann (c) - Eames, Clarridge (66, Bove), Akinyimika, Ramirez-Espain (57, Kyprianou) - Payero (66, Mamma), London (46, Keban) - Adu-Poku, Kayembe, Vata (46, Nabizada) - Doumbia. Unused: Walker (G), Pollock, Bravo, Zemura
- Peterborough United (4-2-3-1)
- Bass (c) - Dornelly, Nevett, Okagbue (65, Mendonca), Mills - Kelly (65, Johnston), Woods (66, Conn-Clarke) - Masara (46, E Williams), Jones, Shofowoke - Leonard (65, Kamara). Unused: Andeng, Ndi (G), Weir, Khela, Edwards
Editorial judgement, not a statistic
William Powell's standout players
Harry Leonard (Peterborough United) - A clinical brace, including a delightful chipped finish, led the rout
Bolu Shofowoke (Peterborough United) - Caused Watford's young back four problems throughout and was rewarded with a goal
Ben Woods (Peterborough United) - Controlled midfield and set up two of the five goals
Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) - The lone bright spark for the hosts, working hard and grabbing a deserved consolation
Selected by William Powell at the ground.
William Powell
Senior Editor · FWA Life Member · Sports Journalist since 1987
William Powell is CUVA Sports' senior editor and lead correspondent, covering football and cricket at the highest level for nearly four decades. A Life Member of the Football Writers' Association, his writing combines deep tactical knowledge with the narrative flair of the best sports journalism.
