Watford will be looking to continue their winning momentum when they face Stevenage in the first round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday. Watford had a strong start to their Championship campaign with a 4-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers on the weekend, while Stevenage also secured a 1-0 win in their League One opener against Northampton Town.
Stevenage recently got promoted from League Two and will be focused on avoiding relegation in the new season. They made a good start to their League One campaign with a late goal securing a win against Northampton. The team has undergone significant changes in terms of recruitment, bringing in nine new players, including Harry Anderson and Louis Thompson. They will be looking to build on their strong start against Shrewsbury Town on the weekend.
Watford, managed by Valerien Ismael, finished 11th in the Championship last season but are aiming for promotion this time around. They had an impressive start to their campaign with a convincing win over QPR. Although the EFL Cup is not their priority, they will be hoping to continue building confidence in the early stages of the season.
Team news for Stevenage suggests that there will be changes to the starting lineup with Nick Freeman, Jake Forster-Caskey, and Josh March expected to feature. Watford, on the other hand, have no injury concerns but James Morris is a doubt after being forced off in the last game. Youngsters Ryan Andrews and Giorgi Chakvetadze could also be included in the starting lineup.
In terms of predictions, Watford is expected to comfortably progress to the second round of the competition. Despite both teams not being at full strength, Watford’s squad has a significant quality advantage over Stevenage. The difference in quality is likely to be the deciding factor in this match.
Overall, Tuesday’s clash between Stevenage and Watford will be an opportunity for both teams to gain momentum early in the season. While Stevenage will be looking to continue their strong start in League One, Watford will be aiming to build confidence and progress in the EFL Cup.
