The hosts surrendered a two-goal lead against Millwall last Saturday when they conceded an 88th-minute equaliser, though Mileta Rajovic‘s 90th-minute winner was enough to rescue all three points for Watford.
The Hornets can perhaps count themselves fortunate to have escaped with any points considering they only produced 10 shots and two big chances, whereas Millwall had 16 attempts and seven big chances.
Of particular concern will be the fact that their opponents had 12 shots inside their penalty area and even hit the woodwork twice.
The result left the hosts in fifth place on Saturday, and boss Tom Cleverley will be hoping to better last season’s disappointing 15th-placed finish.
Watford were eliminated from the 2023-24 iteration of the EFL Cup after they lost on penalties in the first round against Stevenage on August 8, 2023.
In fact, the Hornets have lost their last three matches in the competition, including against MK Dons in 2022-23.
The visitors’ loss against Bradford City was a fairly dull affair, with just three big chances produced between the sides.
Though they had 68% possession and attempted 407 more passes than Bradford, the Dons failed to register even one xG.
![Alex Gilbey during the Sky Bet League Two play-off semi-final, first leg match at Broadfield Stadium, Crawley, on May 7, 2024. [on August 11, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/alex-gilbey.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip)
Boss Mike Williamson will be aware that dropping points so early in the season could be costly, especially given his side finished eight points behind Mansfield Town in third place last term, which is League Two’s final automatic promotion spot.
The Dons were knocked out in the first round of the EFL Cup last campaign after they lost 2-0 against Wycombe Wanderers on August 8, 2023.
The visitors previously beat Watford 2-0 in the competition’s second round in the 2022-23 season at Vicarage Road on August 23, 2023, and even made it as far as the fourth round before losing 3-0 against Leicester City in December 2022.
Watford head into the 2024/25 season looking to improve on their 15th-placed finish last term.
It will be the first season that manager Tom Cleverley has been at the helm from the beginning of the campaign, having taken the role on an interim basis midway through 2023/24 before being handed the job permanently.
The former Manchester United man has impressed in his first senior management role, but there is still work to be done with his current squad.
Here, Football League World looks at two situations the Hornets must avoid this summer.
About The Author
