A Keinan Davis goal two minutes before half time earned Watford a 1-1 draw with Blackpool in their friendly, played in the Pinatar Arena in Murcia, Spain.
The game came at the end of a week-long trip to warmer climes as the Hornets got some sun on their backs during the World Cup break.
Head coach Slaven Bilic took the chance to take a look at Jeremy Ngakia on the right side of defence for the first time, while midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru also started – though it must be said the line-up was almost totally changed during the interval.
Craig Cathcart captained the team that started, while Nigerian international keeper Maduka Okoye began between the posts.
The game didn’t start well for the Hornets as they fell behind to Sonny Carey’s low shot from inside the box after 13 minutes.
Shortly after Vakoun Bayo saw a volley saved from Hamza Choudhury’s cross, and then Ngakia teed up Joseph Hungbo for a shot that was deflected wide.
Four minutes before the break some great work from Yaser Asprilla saw him beat two defenders before curling a shot just wide.
However, in the 43rd minute, Davis did well to gather a pass from Asprilla inside the Blackpool and then check inside and back out again onto his left foot before drilling a precision finish into the far corner.
There were few chances in the second half, Hungbo having a shot from the edge of the box saved and at the death the winger nearly snatched a win with a curling effort that went just the wrong side of the upright.
Watford: Okoye; Ngakia, Cathcart, Kabasele, Kamara; Choudhury, Dele-Bashiru; Bayo, Asprilla, Hungbo; Davis. Subs (all half time): Hamer, Morris, Pollock, Troost-Ekong, Gaspar, Kayembe and Pedro for Okoye, Kamara, Cathcart, Kabasele, Ngakia, Choudhury and Davis.
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