Gianfranco Zola tasted defeat for the first time as West Ham were dumped out of the Carling Cup at Watford.
West Ham boss Zola suffers first defeat
Gianfranco Zola tasted defeat for the first time as West Ham manager as the Hammers were dumped out of the Carling Cup in the third round as they went down 1-0 at Watford.
West Ham easily beat Newcastle at the weekend in Zola's first game in charge, but they could not repeat that feat at Vicarage Road.
The only goal of the game came on 70 minutes as Hayden Mullins put through his own net.
Lionel Ainsworth almost gave the hosts the lead in the 12th minute when his drive crashed into the side-netting, then Ross Jenkins had a diving header that dropped wide of the post.
Ainsworth also lobbed over Jan Lastuvka in the 14th minute and the Czech goalkeeper, making his debut, peddled back to tip over.
Freddie Sears was making the running for the visitors and he cleared the angle of crossbar and post with a drive, then Jordan Parkes panicked and almost headed a clearance past his own goalkeeper.
As the Hammers eased themselves into the game, Scott Loach was required twice to keep the score level.
Flowing
Luis Boa Morte's effort from the edge of the area was heading for the top corner until it was tipped over, then David Di Michele's reverse pass sent Mark Noble through, with Loach parrying again.
Aidy Boothroyd's side were rubbing shoulders with Premier League heavyweights two seasons ago and they showed no fear as they finished the first half strongly.
Ainsworth went close again, drilling across the face of goal. Lastuvka was also required to save twice from Tommy Smith, the first after a flowing move that ended with Will Hoskins backheeling into his path.
Di Michele had sight of goal at the near post after the break but the hosts hustled him off the ball at the cost of just a corner.
Lastuvka was busier than Loach at the other end. He saved a powerful drive from Parkes before leaping to his right to stop Smith's header from Lee Williamson's cross from the left.
Lastuvka's good work was undone with 20 minutes remaining. After referee Peter Walton awarded a questionable handball against Walter Lopez, Williamson swung over the free-kick from the right, the goalkeeper dived over the dipping cross, with the ball hitting Mullins and trickling over the line.
Jay DeMerit was injured and hobbled down the tunnel with five minutes to go, leaving Watford with 10 men, but they held on to inflict a first defeat for Hammers boss Zola.
