Man City 2-1 Watford | Post Match

Manchester City have progressed to the EFL Cup fourth round after beating Watford 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

Just 49 hours separated the end of City's frantic 2-2 Premier League draw with Arsenal on Sunday and kickoff against the Hornets, resulting in Pep Guardiola making nine changes to his starting lineup - most notably handing 16-year-old defender Kaden Braithwaite his senior debut.

Watford, who also made nine changes, would have hoped to have kept things tight at the back early doors, but Man City needed just five minutes to open the scoring through Jeremy Doku, helped by an under-hit back-pass from Hornets defender Ryan Porteous in the build-up.

The Citizens doubled their advantage in the 38th minute when Matheus Nunes fizzed his first goal for the club into the bottom corner, after Watford's Kwadwo Baah had an equaliser disallowed for a barge into the back of Braithwaite.

Guardiola's much-changed side continued to dominate proceedings after the break and almost added a third when substitute Savinho fired a shot across goal and against the base of the post, before Jack Grealish was denied by Jonathan Bond at the near post.

Watford gave City a scare in the closing stages when Tom Ince curled a delightful left-footed strike into the top corner with four minutes remaining, and they pushed for a late leveller in stoppage time. However, the hosts held on to ensure that they avoided a second successive exit in the third round after losing 1-0 at Newcastle United at this stage last year.

Man City will find out who they will face in the fourth round when the draw is made on Wednesday after Liverpool's match with West Ham United.