WATFORD will take no further part in the Carling Cup after being knocked out by Southend this evening (Tuesday).

A goal in each half from Charlie MacDonald and Matt Harold sent the League One side into the third round and represented a further blow for Aidy Boothroyd who had seen his first choice side routed at Leicester on Saturday.

Boothroyd decided against giving the 11 who were mauled at The Walkers Stadium an immediate opportunity to put things right, opting instead to field virtually the same side who swept aside Gillingham in the last round. The only change from the side which defeated the Gills at Vicarage Road saw Alex Campana start in place of Steve Kabba.

Campana took his place on the right-hand side of midfield but it was down the left flank where Watford mounted their first attack.

A lovely exchange between Anthony McNamee and Will Hoskins ended with the left-winger swinging over a teasing cross that Adam Barrett was forced to head behind for a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Tamas Priskin headed over from Campana's right-wing delivery.

Barrett became the first player to be cautioned for a foul on five minutes but the big defender thought he had redeemed himself ten minutes later when he planted a header from a Tommy Black free-kick past Richard Lee. But the home side's celebrations were cut short when the assistant referee deemed Barrett had strayed offside.

At the other end, McNamee's dazzling footwork were in evidence once more when he danced his way into a shooting position and forced Darryl Flahavan to tip over.

Lee, at the other end, had not been forced to make a save but his first real involvement was to pick the ball out of the net on 20 minutes. A lovely threaded pass from Franck Moussa picked out the run of McDonald and he out-sprinted and out-muscled Jackson and slide the ball across Lee and into the far corner for his first goal for the Shrimpers.

Watford responded in positive fashion to going a goal behind. A header from Jackson forced Flahavan to save bravely at the feet of Hoskins and then the keeper was also called into action to thwart Priskin after another excellent piece of wide play from McNamee.

Priskin was in the thick of the action at the start of the second half. The Hungarian showed a useful turn of speed to leave Barrett for dead and reach the by-line. A neat turn saw Priskin shift the ball onto his left foot and he looked set to pull the trigger when Barrett made a desperate challenge. The away fans were out of their seats pleading for a penalty but the referee waived away their protests.

Watford had forced 14 corners to Southend's two by that stage but you got the impression it just wasn't going to be their night when Southend added a second on 54 minutes. McDonald found space down the right and he surged to the by-line before cutting the ball back for Harold to score from close range.

The visiting support spent parts of the second half chanting the name of Darius Henderson and they would have wished the strapping striker was on the end of a raking free-kick from Jackson on 67 minutes. Instead, Priskin sent his free header straight at Flahavan after ghosting in behind the Southend defence.

Boothroyd replaced Jordan Parkes with John-Joe O'Toole in an attacking move on 71 minutes but Southend almost took advantage of the reshuffle. Cedric Avinel made an excellent recovery tackle to deny Harold and then Lee palmed away a close-range effort from MacDonald.

Watford forced 17 corners over the course of the 90 minutes but not for the first time over the last 12 month, looked toothless in attack. The proposed signing of Nathan Ellington cannot come soon enough.

Southend: Flahavan; Francis, Richards, Barrett (capt), Hunt, Moussa, McCormack, Bailey, Black, MacDonald, Harrold.

Subs: Clarke, Collis, Hooper, Gilbert, Lokando.

Watford: Lee; Mariappa, Jackson, Avinel, Parkes; Campna, Bangura, Rinaldi, McNamee; Priskin, Campana.

Subs: O'Toole for Parkes, 71. Loach, Forbes, O'Toole, Osbourne, L Henderson.

Booked: Barrett, Francis, Avinel, Bangura.

Ref: J Singh Att: 5,554.