Preview | Watford (A)
The Game
Watford v Argyle. Vicarage Road. Tuesday, 27 August. 7.45pm. Carabao Cup.
The Opposition
Watford won their opening game in the Carabao Cup by beating Milton Keynes Dons 5-0, with goals from Mattie Pollock and Kwadwo Baah complementing a Tom Ince hat-trick.
In fact, Watford have won every game so far this season, winning all three of their Sky Bet Championship fixtures. They began with a 3-2 win against Millwall, in which the Hornets led 2-0, saw the hosts recover to 2-2 by the 88th minute, followed by an injury-time Watford winner.
After their cup tie win, they then played Stoke City at home, winning 3-0. On Saturday, they went a goal down to Derby County after two minutes but recovered to win 2-1.
The Gaffer
Tom Cleverley was working as Watford’s Under-18s coach in March 2024, when manager Valerian Ismael was dismissed. Cleverley was put in interim charge, and lost just one in seven, before being given the job on a full-time basis. It is his first management job.
Cleverley came through the ranks at Manchester United and played 79 times for the Red Devils. During his time with United, he had various loans, one of which was at Watford in the Championship in 2009/10, where he scored 11 goals in 33 games. He also had loans with Leicester City, Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa.
Leaving United in 2015, he signed for Everton, where he played for two years, before heading back to Vicarage Road on loan once more. He made the move to Watford permanent in the summer of 2017. After 146 games in his second spell as a Hornet, Cleverley retired because of injury in 2023.
A former team-mate of Wayne Rooney’s at Manchester United and England, midfielder Cleverley played 13 times for his country.
The Squad
Nine players have already scored for Watford this season, with two players on three goals.
One is Tom Ince, the experienced attacker who has played for Blackpool, Derby County, Stoke City and others. He scored a hat-trick in Watford’s first-round win.
Also on three goals is midfielder Edo Kayembe (below). Before this season, he had five goals in 71 games for the Hornets, but he scored Watford’s opening goal of this season, and then grabbed two in the next league game, against Stoke.
He did not play in the Carabao Cup game against MK Dons. In fact, Watford made seven changes from their opening-day side, so it is tricky to know what sort of line-up they will be put out on Tuesday.
Last Season’s Meetings
Argyle’s first away game of the 2023/24 season was at Watford, where the Pilgrims came away with a battling 0-0 draw.
The second game between the sides was also a draw, but this time the goals flowed. Kayembe scored in that game, putting Watford in front, but Argyle equalised with a stunning Finn Azaz goal, then led via Morgan Whittaker. Ismael Kone levelled for the visitors, and then Ryan Hardie put Argyle 3-2 up – and all this was in the first half. After the break, Ryan Andrews made it 3-3, and there the score stayed.
Tickets
Tickets will be available to purchase on the day at Watford – sales are cash only.
Click here to find a full ticket update.
A Strip for the Trip
Argyle will wear their green home kit for this game.
Sky Coverage
This game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+.
Argyle TV
Commentary for the game will be provided via Argyle TV by the commentary team from BBC Radio Devon.
