Watford vs Peterborough United

25/08/2026

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Watford v Posh: Match Preview

Posh head to the capital on Tuesday night to take on Sky Bet Championship side Watford in the second round of the Carabao Cup (7.45pm).

Peterborough United are in Carabao Cup second round action on Tuesday night as Luke Williams' side take on the Hornets for a place in round three of the competition.

Posh moved into the second round after a 1-0 victory over Sky Bet League Two side Bristol Rovers, while Watford also overcame opposition from the same league, defeating Crawley Town thanks to a last-gasp winner.

TEAM NEWS

Posh welcome back David Okagbue from suspension after the former Walsall man missed the weekend win over Mansfield Town following his red card at Bradford City.

Declan Frith, Sam Hughes, Matt Garbett and Rio Adebisi are side-lined through injury, while defender Lucca Mendonca is expected to be named in the squad after illness alongside goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi, who is also available.

Watford are expected to make changes in the forward areas of their line-up from their Championship XI with ex-Posh midfielder Hector Kyprianou expected to feature against his former side.

ONE TO WATCH

Iker Bravo

Watford announced the signing of exciting Spain Under-21 international forward Iker Bravo (pictured below) in July 2026. Bravo arrived at Vicarage Road on a permanent deal from Udinese and signed a three-year contract with the Hornets.

A versatile forward who can play anywhere across the front line, Bravo is a product of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy set-up. He went on to join Bayer Leverkusen in 2021 and made his professional bow at 16, becoming the youngest ever debutant for the club and the second youngest in the Bundesliga at the time. A Spanish youth international from Under 15 level through to the Under 21s, he won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship with his country in 2024, scoring in the final and being named as Player of the Tournament.

MANAGER QUOTES

"Watford are an established side in the Championship and they have also enjoyed promotion to the Premier League, so although they have a unique model when it comes to the Head Coach, you can't say it hasn't been successful. They have done wonders with Vicarage Road, it is a wonderful pitch and a superb stadium. For us, it is an opportunity to go there and test ourselves against good quality opposition," Luke Williams said.

TICKET NEWS

Over 1,000 tickets have been sold in advance for the game with tickets on sale at www.theposhtickets.com and via the Weston Homes Stadium Ticket Office until 2pm on Tuesday. Tickets are available on the night, Sales will be Cash Only and available from the Tickets and Information Point, this is a small kiosk located at the top of Yellow Brick Road nearby to the away turnstiles. Ticket prices can be found here

CUP RULES

If the tie is level after 90 minutes, it will go straight to penalty kicks. Five substitutions from the nine named players can be made.

KIT COLOURS

Posh are in the home kit for the game, which can be purchased here

MATCH OFFICIAL

Isaac Searle is the match referee.

Match preview brought to you by;

Five Star Showing From Ruthless Posh

There are many ways to reach round three of the Carabao Cup, but not many have done it by beating Championship opposition away from home 5-1.

Peterborough United breezed into round three of the Carabao Cup after an unforgettable evening in the capital as Luke Williams' side beat Sky Bet Championship side Watford 5-1 at Vicarage Road.

Harry Leonard netted twice with teenager Bolu Shofowoke scoring his first senior goal and Harrison Jones finding the back of the net for the first time in Posh colours. An own goal from James Claridge set Posh on their way.

In front of over 1,100 supporters behind the goal, including ex-Posh winger Kyrell Lisbie, Posh were excellent both in and out of possession and will look forward to round three on Wednesday evening.

It was Shofowoke who created the first goal, collecting a perfectly timed pass from Jones before driving into the box and firing the ball across goal for Leonard, only for the defender to stab the ball into the net instead.

Posh doubled the lead on 22 minutes as Woods and Jones combined to set Masara into the box, his left-foot shot was saved by the legs of Bachmann but LEONARD was there to tap home the rebound.

Jones headed wide on 30 minutes before Vata curled wide at the other end. Bass did well to keep out the same player moments later before Payero fired over from the edge of the box.

Woods saw a free-kick well gathered by Bachmann on the stroke of half-time after a foul on Masara that ended his game.

On 49 minutes, Leonard was superbly denied by the goalkeeper after excellent work from substitute Ethan Williams, but the frustration didn't last long because LEONARD made it 3-0 moments later, racing onto a Woods pass before delightfully dinking the ball over the keeper.

On 54 minutes, Posh made it 4-0, Kelly found Leonard on the edge of the box, his stinging drive was saved by 70 Bachmann, but SHOFOWOKE was there to snaffle home the rebound for his first professional goal.

Eames side-footed wide for the hosts just after the hour, but three minutes later it was 5-0 as JONES squeezed a delightful shot into the roof of the net from an acute angle for his first Posh goal.

Bass did well to keep out a low effort from Nabizada on 70 minutes before DOUMBIA did get one back for the Hornets. Posh were a whisker away from a sixth as Williams cracked a shot against the bar before Doumbia did the same with a shot on the turn.

The draw for the third round is Wednesday evening live on Sky Sports.

Watford: Bachmann, Vata (sub Nabizada 46min), Doumbia, Payero (sub Bove 67min), Kayembe, Adu-Poku, Ramirez-Espain (sub Kyprianou 56min), Clarridge (sub Maamma 66min), Eames, Akinyimika, London (sub Keben 46min). Unused subs: Walker, Pollock, , Bravo, Zemura.

Posh: Bass, Kelly (sub Johnston 66min), Jones, Leonard (sub Kamara 67min), Mills, Nevett, Woods (sub Conn-Clarke 66min), Masara (sub Williams 46min), Shofowoke, Okagbue (sub Mendonca 66min), Dornelly. Subs: Andeng Ndi, Weir, Khela, Edwards.

Half-time: Watford 0-2 Peterborough United
Full-time: Watford 1-5 Peterborough United
Attendance: 7,978 (1,157 Posh fans)