Watford have reached the third round of the EFL Cup thanks to a 2-0 win over Reading in Wednesday night's second-round clash at the Madejski Stadium.
Hornets manager Javi Gracia rested all 11 of the players who started the 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace last Sunday with an eye towards the weekend's Premier League game with Tottenham Hotspur.
Nonetheless, the visitors gave a good account of themselves and twice went close from a corner in the first half, but neither Adrian Mariappa nor Ben Wilmot could seize the opportunity.
Reading then countered as Chris Gunter got into a good area and whipped a low cross which Marc McNulty was able to control but could not keep below the crossbar.
The breakthrough came on 37 minutes as Isaac Success opened the scoring for the Hornets, finishing off Adam Masina's cross to put Gracia's side in the driving seat by the halfway point of the tie.
Domingos Quina then doubled the visitors' advantage with a stunning debut goal just after the hour mark, picking up the ball 30 yards out and unleashing a ferocious effort into the top corner.
Paul Clement's side could not find a way back into the game, though Liam Kelly wasted a good chance when he rifled a half-volley just over the bar from a good position in the 79th minute.
READING (3-4-3): Walker; Ilori, O'Shea (Baldock 65'), Moore; Gunter, Kelly, Bacuna, Richards (Yiadom 63'); Meite; McNulty, Swift (Sims 46')
WATFORD (4-5-1): Gomes; Navarro, Mariappa, Prodl, Masina; Femenia, Chalobah (Hughes 86'), Wilmot, Quina (Doucoure 82'), Sema (Okaka 65'); Success
No Data Analysis info
