Head Coach Valérien Ismaël shared his thoughts with the media after Watford’s first-round exit in the 2023/24 Carabao Cup at the hands of Hertfordshire neighbours Stevenage.

The game at the Lamex Stadium finished 1-1 after 90 minutes - with Vakoun Bayo’s opener being cancelled out by a Josh March strike – and the League One hosts edged the subsequent penalty shoot-out 4-3.

Read what Ismaël had to say below…

On the game as a whole:

We started well and we were in control for the first half-an-hour, then for some reason we lost control and didn’t play anymore, and it became a fight. The opponent put us exactly where they wanted us.

In the second half we changed things tactically and we created lots of chances. I didn’t recognise many chances from the opponent. Then it goes to a penalty shoot-out, which is a 50/50 situation. We’re disappointed about the result, and we should’ve won the game, but we have to look forward positively to the Plymouth game on Saturday now.

On the positives:

During the QPR game we lost control for 10 minutes in the second half, and it was the same here. We put a solution in place and I think that was a positive. This game was direct with fight mentality - it’s my responsibility to give the players a solution, we use every match to improve and I think we’ve learned a lot from it.

After losing control we created a situation where we forced the opponent to defend and we put big distances between the ball and our goal. We’re in a process of learning and understanding our principles, and with the style of play we’re implementing the players are still getting to grips with the balances and taking responsibility on the pitch.

On his approach to the match:

We are really early in the season so I didn’t think we were in a position to rotate. We are here to create momentum, to get minutes in the legs and improve fitness, so I kept things largely the same.

I didn’t take any risks with a handful of the players, because we want to give them all the best chance of being 100 per cent for as long as possible. At the moment we don’t have everyone available, but the work and the mentality in the squad is good.

On Ngakia’s withdrawal:

It was a bad tackle. Right now we don’t know, but we will assess the situation and hope it’s not too serious.

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