Etienne Capoue’s superb long-range strike and Jerome Sinclair’s late header were the difference as Watford dominated Stevenage in a 2-0 win at the Lamex.

The Hornets could easily have won by a greater margin as they created a number of chances and played an expansive brand of football.

The win came at a price, however, as both Jose Holebas and Adlene Guedioura limped off with injuries.

Midfielder Ben Watson missed out with a knock, while Troy Deeney made his first appearance of pre-season as he partnered Odion Ighalo in attack.

Walter Mazzarri opted to make only one other change from the team which drew 1-1 with Woking on Sunday as Jose Holebas replaced Ikechi Anya.

The Hornets were in the ascendency from the off and some smart interplay around the edge of the box put Ighalo through on goal in the fifth minute.

The Nigerian international scuffed his close range effort past the advancing Jamie Jones but saw his strike cleared inches before it crossed the line.

Watford’s Italian head coach persisted with a 3-5-2 formation which gave wing-backs Holebas and Nordin Amrabat ample chance to get forward early on.

The system gave the visitors the greater attacking threat in the opening exchanges, but they lacked the required finesse in the final third to take advantage.

Capoue was particularly guilty of profligacy as he blazed high over the bar from 20 yards after Deeney’s clever lay-off had found him in space in the 17th minute.

Watford’s most incisive piece of play of the half almost brought the opener nine minutes later as the increasingly influential Capoue dissected the Boro defence with a superb through ball.

After Deeney instinctively let the pass run, Ighalo rounded Jones and cut the ball onto his right foot only to see his shot blocked on the line by the retreating Fraser Franks.

Neither set of players held back as a succession of strong challenges flew in just before the break, despite the fact both these sides are in the early stages of their pre-season.

Dale Gorman slid in on Mario Suarez with a clean tackle, which Steven Berghuis clearly took exception to as he unceremoniously upended a Stevenage player.

A minor scuffle between a number of players followed as referee, Darren Deadman, struggled to keep control of proceedings.

The half concluded with the home side’s best move of the game with Matt Godden breaking free in the right corner of the box and powerfully firing just over.

It took just four minutes of the second period for Watford to find the quality that had been missing in front of goal in the opening half.

Capoue, who had been one of the Hornets’ best players in the first half, collected the ball on the left drove forward and unleashed an unstoppable drive.

The Frenchman’s 25 yard strike ripped across Jones and into the top right corner to give Watford the lead.

Stevenage rallied quickly, headed straight back down the other end and veteran midfielder Michael Tonge sent a long-range effort just over.

In truth though, Boro failed to trouble the Watford defence with the regularity required to force a goal.

Ighalo’s night had been one of near misses and his frustration was added to after he latched onto a loose ball after a deep corner had been spilled.

He swivelled and volleyed towards goal from eight yards, only for his effort to cannon off the cross bar. It was his last action of the night before being replaced by Sinclair.

Watford were now enjoying their football and the woodwork was rattling again in the 68th minute after Deeney slid a low shot off the base of the left-hand upright.

Sinclair looked lively throughout his brief appearance and a pacey run and well weighted through ball gave Deeney the chance to double the Watford lead.

Watford’s captain opted to take a touch instead of strike first time and shot straight at the keeper as he narrowed the angle.

Watford’s dominance was rewarded with a second goal late in extra time as Sinclair got on the end of a driven cross to head home from point-blank range.

It was a fitting way for the youngster to cap an impressive cameo from the bench, but the night undoubtedly belonged to Capoue after he had controlled the match from midfield.

Watford will now look forward to a pre-season tour of Austria where they will take on German outfit Union Berlin at Stadion St. Andrä and Anzhi Makhachkala.

Watford: Gomes (Arlauskis 45); Nyom, Britos, Hoban; Amrabat (Anya 45), Capoue, Suarez (Guedioura 45 replaced by Success 75), Berghuis (Doucoure 45), Holebas (Abdi 62), Deeney (c), Ighalo (Sinclair 62)

Subs not used: Gilmartin, Rowan, Stevens, Paredes, Ovenden, Oulare, Vydra, Success

Stevenage: Jones, Henry, Wilkinson, Franks, Fox, Kennedy, Tonge, Gorman, Trialist, Liburd, Godden

Referee: Darren Deadman