Man City edge second-tier Watford after late scare in Carabao Cup third round

Manchester City edged into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a narrow 2-1 victory over Championship outfit Watford at Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola made nine changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Premier League title rivals Arsenal just two days earlier, but it made little difference as they sealed progress despite a late blip.

Jeremy Doku opened the scoring after just five minutes when he fired low into the far corner after the visitors had gifted possession to The Citizens inside their own area.

Matheus Nunes made it two prior to the interval when he squeezed his first goal for the club beyond the dive of Jonathan Bond from 20 yards.

Watford had their moments on the break with Kwadwo Baah unfortunate to have a goal chalked off for a foul, while Vakoun Bayo contrived to flash a free header wide of the near post.

City substitute Savinho saw a goal-bound shot cleared off the line around the hour mark and also thudded the post with a solo run and shot.

The Hornets almost provided a late twist when Tom Ince curled home four minutes from time, but they could not find the leveller to set up a potential shock.

It’s been a week or so of frustration for Guardiola and his players, so this will have provided a suitable tonic ahead of another big test at the weekend.

The draws with Inter Milan and Arsenal not only saw them fail to produce their best against top-class opposition, but it was also compounded with what is reportedly a serious and long-term injury to key midfielder Rodri.

A win was the order of the day, and although the scoreline may suggest it was close, the reality is that City comfortably passed the assignment while allowing the likes of Erling Haaland to rest.

Guardiola won this competition across four straight years from 2018-2021 and will be keen to see squad players and young guns – such as James McAtee, Rico Lewis, Kaden Braithwaite and Nico O’Reilly – seize their opportunity and push them to the latter stages again, as they bid to land this particular trophy for a ninth time.

Savinho (Man City). The 20-year-old Brazilian has already begun to establish himself as a fans’ favourite and the buzz around the Etihad is notable when he comes into possession. The winger was a blur of energy down the right, always eager to take on defenders and unfortunate not to score with a shot cleared off the line and one that hit the post.

MAN CITY: Ortega 6, Walker 7, Stones 7, Braithwaite 7, Lewis 7, O’Reilly 7, Nunes 8, McAtee 8, Doku 7, Grealish 8, Foden 7. Subs: Savinho 8*, Wright 6, Gvardiol 6.

WATFORD: Bond 8, Porteous 7, Ogbonna 7, Morris 7, Ebosele 7, Larouci 7, Ince 7, Louza 6, Sema 6, Bayo 6, Baah 7. Subs: Dele-Bashiru 6, Chakvetadze 6, Pollock 6, Vata 6, Pierre Dwomoh n/a.

05’ – GOAL! – Man City 1-0 Watford: (Doku). The Hornets are caught playing from the back by McAtee. It’s fed to Grealish who lays it back from the left for Doku. The Belgian produces a slick Cruyff turn into space before firing a low shot into the corner from 15 yards.

38’ – GOAL! – Man City 2-0 Watford: (Nunes). Matheus Nunes receives the ball 22 yards out, takes a touch to the left and squeezes a low shot into the bottom corner.

45’ – WATFORD CHANCE! Vakoun Bayo contrives to flash a free header wide of the near post after a delicious cross from the left by Yasser Larouci.

82’ – MAN CITY CHANCE! Grealish sees his goal-bound strike from seven yards brilliantly kept out after magical play down the right and near the byline by Savinho.

86’ – GOAL! – Man City 2-1 Watford: (Ince). What a strike that is! Watford reduce the arrears to set up a nervy finale as Ince curls a superb 20-yard effort into the far top corner.