Academy aces help City to Carabao Cup win over Watford

City included five former Academy players in our starting line-up, with a debut for 16-year-old defender Kaden Braithwaite.

It took just five minutes for Jeremy Doku to fire us into the lead with a low drive before Nunes hit a second in the 38^th minute.

Savinho struck the post while Jack Grealish and Phil Foden went close before Tom Ince’s late strike set up a nervy finish.

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WHAT HAPPENED

Just over 48 hours on from the drama and tension of our 2-2 draw with Arsenal, City were back at the Etihad Stadium.

With such a quick turnaround, Pep Guardiola made nine changes to his starting line-up with Braithwaite in for his debut as the youngest of a youthful side.

City were fast out of the blocks with Grealish charging down the left flank and pulling the ball back for James McAtee, who mistimed his effort inside the opening minute.

But the young midfielder, making his first start at the Etihad, had a big hand in our early opener. He seized on Ryan Porteous’ underhit back pass before the ball was eventually worked to Doku who drilled home a low shot beyond Jonathan Bond.

The Watford keeper was down to keep out another low strike, this time from Nunes, as City continued to pile forward in search of goals.

And the midfielder got it spot on with his second attempt in the 38th minute, another low drive that sneaked inside the post and beyond Bond’s outstretched hand.

It was little more than City deserved as we controlled the first half, with the backline giving no encouragement to the visitors.

Braithwaite fitted effortlessly into the set-up, earning pats on the back from the more experienced John Stones and Kyle Walker to his right as he pounced on a loose ball to set City on the attack.

He faced a physical battle with Kwadwo Baah but after being shut down on one attack, the Watford winger barged him off the ball before firing past Stefan Ortega Moreno with the travelling fans celebrating long after the referee’s whistle for a clear foul.

Braithwaite was not the only young Academy player impressing with flashes of excitement – Lewis pulling out an audacious nutmeg, McAtee with a half-turn in the pockets that Foden would have been delighted with, and O’Reilly confidently spraying passes all over the pitch from the base of midfield.

The visitors finally created their first real effort just before the break, Vakoun Bayo powering his header off-target.

But it was a rare change of direction as we continued to keep pushing for more goals with the addition of Savinho at half-time.

With the Brazilian on the right and Grealish on the left stretching the pitch, a couple of low crosses caused havoc but just evaded a final touch.

Foden, making his first start of the season, was determined to find the net but Watford threw their bodies in the way to stop his shots finding their way to goal.

The visitors’ determination to stop City adding to our tally was epitomised by a frantic 10-second spell when City had four shots; a Nunes blast was well saved by Bond, Lewis’s follow-up was charged down, Savinho’s curler was headed off the line by Tom Ince and Nunes was off-target with the next shot.

Bond made good saves to deny Nunes again and then Foden from long range before he was beaten by Savinho only for the post to save him.

It would have been a breathtaking first goal for the Club since his summer switch for Savinho, with the Brazilian picking up the ball in his own half and driving at the Watford defence before drilling a low shot from a tight angle that bounced off the post.

After an impressive debut, Braithwaite left the pitch with 15 minutes remaining to warm applause and a hug from Guardiola.

A non-stop performance saw him suffer cramp, but fortunately he was the only one struck down with it this time.

Bond pulled off another tremendous save to deny Grealish from close range and their efforts were rewarded when they set up a slightly tense conclusion.

Ince curled in an excellent 85th minute strike beyond Ortega Moreno but City held firm as the Hornets threw players forward in search of an equaliser.

How we lined up

A left-footed defender, Braithwaite started as a full-back with Stones inside him and Walker as a centre-back but covering Lewis when he pushed on into midfield.

O’Reilly was in the holding midfield role with Nunes and McAtee ahead of him, although they were free to exchange with false-nine Foden.

Grealish was in rampant mood down the left wing as was Doku on the opposite flank in the first half before he was replaced an equally exciting Savinho.

Teams

CITY: Ortega Moreno, Walker, Stones, Braithwaite (Gvardiol 76), Lewis, O’Reilly (Wright 73), Nunes, McAtee, Doku (Savinho 46), Grealish, Foden

Subs: Ederson, Dias, Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo, Akanji

WATFORD: Bond, Porteous, Ogbonna, Morris, Ebosele, Larouci (Dele-Bashiru 61), Ince, Louza (Dwomoh 83), Sema, Bayo (Chakvetadze 61), Baah.

Subs: Marriott, Pollock, Vata, Tikvic, Doumbia, Adu-Poku

Player of the match

It was a non-stop performance from Nunes, who got a goal and could have had even more.

The Portuguese midfielder was a constant threat as he troubled the Hornets’ defence, striking from distance with Bond beaten only once. 

He was also denied by the keeper when he escaped behind Watford’s backline but it was an impressive performance from Nunes.

Academy special

It was another proud night for City’s brilliant Academy with five homegrown players starting the third round tie.

Foden has been undoubtedly been our biggest success of recent years, with the midfielder nominated for the Ballon d’Or after winning all the individual honours domestically last season.

Lewis is now a major part of Guardiola’s first team squad, while McAtee and O’Reilly are exciting young talents pushing for more minutes as his second half substitute Jacob Wright.

Joining them was Braithwaite, becoming the youngest player to wear the Sky Blue shirt since Paul Simpson 42 years ago, although a touch older than City legend Glyn Pardoe, who was just short of his 16th birthday when he made his debut.

PEP GUARDIOLA REACTION

“The schedule is the schedule. We can’t handle it anyway or differently.

“Today for McAtee, Matheus, for Jack who didn’t play, for Phil two three months didn’t play, for Nico, from Rico who has played lot of minutes but didn’t play against Arsenal. John, Kyle, for the young lad 16 years old, for Stefan, it’s perfect.

“I saw players who didn’t play lately how they feel, how they are feeling, the condition, how in the rhythm and the pace.

“This is why it’s a good competition otherwise we won’t win four in a row.”

NUNES REACTION

“It was a great performance from the team and I’m happy that I helped us to win.

“We want to be in every competition and try to win all of them and this one is no different.

“Some of the players that haven’t been playing much, get minutes.

“I’m very happy, I feel good, a bit tired but I’ll be ready for Newcastle.”

What it means

City go into the draw for the fourth round which will take place on Wednesday, September 25 after Liverpool’s game against West Ham.

There will be 17 teams going into the hat with Newcastle’s tie at Wimbledon rearranged due to bad weather.  

What’s next

City return to Premier League action on Saturday with a tough trip away to Newcastle.

The game kicks off at 12:30 (UK) and you can keep up to date with all the build-up on mancity.com and the official Manchester City app.