A young Watford team slipped out of the FA Cup without ever really looking able to threaten Reading – but once again there was an injury sustained by a senior player.

Midfielder Leandro Bacuna had only come on at half-time as a substitute but limped off five minutes later after falling to the ground having sent in a cross.

Exactly what the injury is was unclear, but it means Slaven Bilic now has 15 players on the treatment table – an incredible and unprecedented run.

On the plus side, new signing Ismael Kone shone at the heart of Watford’s midfield. Big and athletic, the Canadian international showed he can snap into a tackle, drive forward and also spray good passes around.

He may be short of recent game time, but his performance and the injury to Bacuna suggest we’ll be seeing more of Kone in weeks to come.

The Hornets looked exactly what they were – 11 players who had never formed a team before, and although they weren’t battered they rarely got into the Reading box and didn’t force a save until the last 20 minutes.

There was something of a late rally in the closing stages, but it was more hope than expectation and when Long broke to score the second there will have been a few sighs of relief that the possibility of a replay had been removed.

There are bigger games ahead and Watford clearly did the right thing in protecting a few senior players as well as those unavailable.

What today did show, though, is that the club doesn’t have huge resources once you scratch below the surface of the first-team squad. Something to consider as the January transfer window moves into top gear.

As expected, Watford made wholesale changes as they catered for injuries, suspensions and protecting some of their senior players.

There was a full debut for Blake, debuts for Kone and Adu-Poku, and Okoye came in for only his second appearance in goal.

The bench was largely comprised of Under-21 and Under-18s, as well as 15-year-old full-back Harry Amass.

The first attempt of the game came after eight minutes as Azeez drove from midfield but sent a curling shot over the bar

Two minutes later there was mild panic as Okoye had a heavy touch on a back-pass and just beat Joao to the ball before clearing

Watford’s first effort of the half came after 18 minutes when Blake tried his luck from 25 yards and the was ball deflected wide for a corner

On the half-hour Azeez found space just outside the box and his shot was pushed round the post by Okoye

Nine minutes later Azeez sent in a cross which Okoye dived towards but only parried back into the area, where Joao had time and space but screwed his shot wide.

In stoppage time Reading went ahead. Abrefa sent over a high cross from the right and the ball arced over the stretching Okoye and went into the net via the inside of the back post.

There were shouts for a penalty in the 49th minute when Hungbo was challenged by Mbengue in the box but referee Mr Bankes wasn't interested

Then incredibly another injury for Watford. Bacuna – who only came on at half time – fell to the ground after sending in a cross. He stayed on the ground as play went on, and then limped off after treatment. Grieves replaced the midfielder.

In the 64th minute Joao was played in on the right of the box but his shot was deflected wide

Eight minutes later came Watford's best chance. Kone stole the ball in midfield, drove into the box and slipped a pass to Asprilla. He checked inside a tackle but then sent a tame shot at Bouzanis.

With 13 minutes left Kone took a corner from the left, the ball was cleared and then played back to him, but the midfielder skied a shot way over the bar

There was nearly late drama as the game headed into stoppage time when Morris shanked a shot and the ball spun up in the air. Bouzanis was under it but decided to pat it down and Adu-Poku almost beat him to the loose ball.

Right at the death the home side sealed their victory. Watford were caught with players forward and the ball was played in behind the defence for Long to run into the box and slot past Okoye.

Watford: Okoye; Gaspar (Andrews h/t), Troost-Ekong, Kone, Asprilla, Sierralta, Pollock, Hungbo (Adeyemo 75), Morris, Adu-Poku, Blake (Bacuna h/t, Grieves 51). Subs: Hamer, Amass, Hunter