A GOAL from substitute Grzegorz Rasiak was enough to send the Hornets through to the fourth round of the FA Cup at the first time of asking as the home side found it hard to break down their plucky League One opponents.

Scunthorpe were well organised and more than played their part as they came to Vicarage Road and had the better of the few chances in the 90 minutes.

However it is the Hornets who find themselves in the hat thanks to a second half goal from loan-man Rasiak. 

Grzegorz Rasiak breaks the deadlock in the FA Cup

Boss Brendan Rodgers included his two new loan signings in his first XI, in the shape of Gavin Hoyte and Jack Cork.

Hoyte started the game at right back, while Cork slotted in the central midfield position as Lee Williamson missed out with a minor knock.

Seven substitutes were named for the FA Cup clash, amongst them was Lewis Young who had featured for the first team against Bristol City recently.

The Iron started Paul Hayes, who netted here last campaign against the Hornets.

The game started in a leisurely fashion with neither team imposing themselves on the other.

In freezing conditions it took time before the game started to kick into life. Nigel Adkins' men were the ones who started to pressure the home side though.

Garry Thompson wriggled free down the right and his cross evaded the out-stretched boot of Jon Harley.

It was a good delivery but there was no-one there to covert or test the gloves of Scott Loach.

Tommy Smith then repeated that by whipping in a cross from the right flank, but his delivery evaded the Watford players in the penalty area.

The League One side then tested Loach as the stopper had to react to Martyn Woolford's stinging drive.

The former Lincoln man couldn't hold on to it but fortunately for the Hornets there was no one else there as they played their way out of defence. 

Jobi McAnuff then floated in a free-kick from the left flank but his delivery managed to miss out the Watford players and only John-Joe O'Toole was sniffing around in case Joe Murphy dropped the routine catch.

The visitors won a corner kick and appealed for a penalty after Grant McCann's powerful shot stung a Hornet in the penalty area, but referee Mr Wright waved away the half-hearted protests.

With 35 minutes on the clock McAnuff started a strong run from the left flank as he drove into the area, but it was eventually brought to an end as he was wrestled off the ball and the moment of danger passed.

A few chances started to come as the end of the first half as the break approached, Thompson's low strong drive was held well by Loach in the 37th minute.

Then four minutes later Tamas Priskin drew the ball back and Harley curled a shot just wide of Murphy's post.

Tamas Priskin in the Scunthorpe penalty area

On the stroke of half-time O'Toole hit a promising half volley that flashed wide of the woodwork.

The referee then brought a close to a first-half which was short of chances and was crying out for some FA Cup magic to stir it into life.

Scunthorpe were on top during the opening exchanges of the second half, yet still it produced few moments of excitement for the cold crowd inside Vicarage Road.

Thompson continued to impress for the visitors and after an excellent strong run down the right flank he whipped a ball in that caused danger in the home penalty area but it didn't bring a save from Loach.

Rodgers sent on super-sub Rasiak just before the hour mark in place of O'Toole, to offer some support and aerial threat for the 'Orns. 

Priskin flashed a header wide for the Golden Boys in a spell of pressure on Adkins' side.

Against the run of play the Hornets took the lead in the 67th minute and it was the repolacement for O'Toole, Rasiak, who was in the right place at the right time.

The Golden Boys won a corner and McAnuff floated in a ball from down by The Rous Stand, in front of the watching American marching band, who provided the half-time entertainment.

McAnuff's ball in was flicked on by Adrian Mariappa and the Polish striker was at the far post to hook the ball home past Murphy in the Scunthorpe goal.

Rasiak on the mark to bag a spot in round four

As expected, the Iron reacted by taking the game to the home side. Gary Hooper hit a curling shot that went just wide of Loach's post.

Then Adkins started to make use of his substitutes by bringing on Matthew Sparrow in place of the impressive Thompson.

Ross Jenkins was fouled in the 78th minute down by the touchline and McAnuff floated in a ball to the back post that found Priskin unmarked.

Unfortunately his goal bound shot was saved and it forced another Watford corner kick.

The spell of pressure carried on for the 'Orns as moments later McAnuff sent a low shot just wide of Murphy's left hand post.

As the American band came to life in the last 10 minutes and filled Vicarage Road with some noise - the home crowd joined in as a flurry of substitutions filled the closing stages of the game.

The Alexis I Dupont marching band making some noise

In time added on at the end of the game it took a last ditch challenge from Jay DeMerit on Kevan Hurst to deny the sub a goal-bound shot at Loach as the four minutes of time added on came and went as the Hornets bagged their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.   

WATFORD (4-3-3): Loach, Hoyte (Bridcutt 83), DeMerit (c), Mariappa, Harley; O'Toole (Rasiak 59), Cork, Jenkins; Smith, Priskin (Bromby 89), McAnuff. Subs not used: Lee (gk), Doyley, Hoskins, Young.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED (4-4-2): Murphy; Wright, Byrne (c), Pearce, Williams; Thompson (Sparrow 74), Woolford (Hurst 90), McCann, Togwell (Forte 87); Hayes, Hooper. Subs not used: Lillis (gk), Picton, Mirfin, Crosby.   

BOOKINGS: WATFORD; O'Toole (ungentlemanly conduct, 48). SCUNTHORPE UNITED; Byrne (professional foul, 77).

SENDINGS-OFF: WATFORD; none. SCUNTHORPE UNITED; none.

GOALS: WATFORD; Rasiak (67). SCUNTHORPE UNITED; none.

ATTENDANCE: 8, 690 (1, 219 Scunthorpe United supporters)

REFEREE: Mr K. K. Wright