Tamas Priskin should not face a Championship ban after the referee who sent the striker off in Watford’s 1-1 draw with CF Balaguer agreed to rescind the decision.

Second-half substitute Priskin was shown a red card by Sergi Cano Gazquez in the final 15 minutes of Watford’s first pre-season game in Spain.

The Hornets were shown four yellow cards and a red by Gazquez on Friday but Hornets’ manager Malky Mackay spoke to the Spanish ref after the match.

Mackay told the club’s website: “I thought it was interesting to see the vast differences in the way the two teams played and it was clear the referee struggled to adapt to the way English teams play.

“There were a total of eight yellow cards in the match but I’m convinced that had it taken place in England there would have been none.

“I spoke to the referee afterwards and was very pleased that he recognised the situation and confirmed that he was rescinding the paperwork.

“It was important that he realised he was giving fouls and cards for challenges that, in England, would have passed off totally unpunished so I was pleased to get the opportunity to tell him that.”

An almost fully-strength Watford were on top for much of the game against CF Balaguer, who play in the fourth-tier of Spanish football.

Scott Loach and Jay DeMerit started after their extended breaks following international duty, but Tamas Priskin, Tommy Smith and new signings Scott Severin and Jure Travner were on the bench.

Trialist Claudio Beauvue featured again after his impressive performance against Wealdstone and Jobi McAnuff made his first pre-season appearance after illness.

It was McAnuff who set up Watford’s goal on 36 minutes, when he gathered the ball after Graham’s shot had rebounded off the bar and sent the ball back into the box for Graham.

The former Carlisle United striker’s header was well saved but John Eustace was able to tap home from close range.

Travner, Severin and Richard Lee all came on at half time and were soon joined by the second wave of substitutions on the hour-mark - with Priskin, Smith and Nathan Ellington taking to the field.

Priskin and Smith’s impact was almost immediate. First the Hungary international showed great skill by the corner flag to beat two defenders and force the keeper into a good save. Then Smith almost ran the length of the pitch to cross for Priskin, whose shot was saved once more.

In the final 15 minutes, Jon Harley, Rob Kiernan, Lee Hodson and Michael Bryan all came on and it wasn’t long until Hodson joined Ross Jenkins, DeMerit and Mike Williamson in the referee’s book.

After a number of re-takes, CF Balaguer scored the equaliser from the resulting free kicks. A well-worked move allowed Genís Soldevila to fire in a low drive into the bottom corner.

Complaints about the goal led to Priskin being sent off for what the referee considered dissent and the game fizzled out and ended in a 1-1 draw.

Mackay said: “It was a good workout and I was pleased with some of the combination play going forward.

“The heat takes it toll and I was a little disappointed that we didn’t manage to hold on to the win but, overall, there were a lot of good things to take from today.”

Watford line-up: Loach (Lee 45); Mariappa (Hodson 75), Williamson, DeMerit (Travner 45), Doyley (Harley 45); Beauvue (Bryan 80), Eustace (Severin 45), Jenkins (Kiernan 75), McAnuff (Smith 60); Cowie (Priskin 60), Graham (Ellington 60).

Subs not used: Henderson, Oshodi, Sordell.