Walter Mazzarri will take charge of his very first English cup tie on Tuesday evening as his Watford side take on Gillingham in the League Cup.
A slow start to the season
The Hornets are two matches into the new Premier League season. An Etienne Capoue goal was cancelled out by Southampton winger Nathan Redmond to give Mazzarri his maiden league point at St Mary’s, before Capoue netted again last Saturday but the Hornets were beaten 2-1 by Antonio Conte’s Chelsea thanks to a late Diego Costa winner at Vicarage Road. Watford can count themselves extremely unlucky to only have up a single point from the first six having led and played well in both games.
There are no new injury concerns for the side ahead of the tie. Record signing Issac Success could feature after a slight hamstring strain but combative midfielder Ben Watson is still banned after his sending off at Southampton.
New signing poised for debut
New signing Younis Kaboul could make his debut at Priestfield while Roberto Perrerya who was signed from Juventus is still awaiting a work permit.
In last season’s league cup Quique Sanchez Florres side were dumped out at this stage by Preston North End 1-0 at Deepdale.
A mixed start for the minows
Justin Edinburgh’s Gillingham side sit 10th in league 1 after back to back 3-1 victories in league and cup against Southend, a win over Bury, a draw against Swindon and a 5-0 battering at Scunthorpe on Saturday.
Edinburgh comes to Vicarage Road looking for a response from his players after that disappointing outing at Glandford Park at the weekend. He will be quietly confident that a cup upset is not beyond the realms of possibility given the tendency of Premier League clubs to field weaker sides in this competition in recent years.
Another comfort for the Gills is that they have no new injury or suspension worries ahead of the match. The Kent club will be looking to go a step further than last year when they were knocked out by Birmingham City at this stage.