Pep will face a much bigger cup threat

only one shot on target as Watford eased past but assistant manager Dean Holden said: “We had four academy players and the owner Steve Lansdown, who was here, would have been proud of that.

“This was always going to be a tough ask, but it was a disciplined performance, although we gave them too much respect in the first half.”

The Robins will fly to Manchester tomorrow and midfielder Korey Smith is expected to be fit despite missing the second half because of a leg injury.

Holden said: “It is going to be an incredible night for the club on Tuesday. We are up against probably the best coach there has ever been, against one of the best teams, so we know it will be difficult.” If Johnson wanted to practise defensive drills, getting men behind the ball and halting attempts to play, then for half an hour he must have been delighted by what he saw.

But goalkeeper Luke Steele, who had already done well to block chances that fell to Christian Kabasele and Tom Cleverley, could not stop Andre Carrillo scoring his second goal in three games after some neat footwork in the penalty area.

The Premier League side sealed their place in the next round when Cleverley, on the stretch, delivered a fine cross and Troy Deeney marked his return from a four-match ban with a diving header from close range, his third goal of the season.

Debutant Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, finally had City’s first shot on target in the 78th minute but even Watford, with a penchant for chucking away promising positions late in the game, were not going to lose this one.

And they put any doubts to bed when Etienne Capoue added a third after playing a one-two with Deeney.

While City travel to Manchester, Watford have their own massive match to contemplate next weekend.

They entertain Southampton and while victory would relieve the growing pressure on boss Marco Silva, defeat would raise all sorts of questions about the Portuguese boss, such a wanted man just a few weeks ago.

He said: “A win always gives more confidence to everyone. We prepared to win, scored three goals and kept a clean sheet and now our players can rest.” Possession 63% 37% Shots On Target 11 1 Shots Off Target 6 4 Blocked Shots 3 0 Corners 7 2 Fouls Conceded 3 11 Offsides 0 0 Yellow Cards 1 0 Red Cards 0 0