New Watford boss Walter Mazzarri saw his side begin their pre-season campaign with a 1-1 draw at Woking.

Steven Berghuis opened the Hornets’ account and slotted home after a smart reverse ball from Ikechi Anya, but within minutes they were pegged back when Charlie Carter bundled home an equaliser.

New signing Jerome Sinclair missed two second-half chances after Watford made a host of changes at the break, but despite enjoying plenty of possession, they were held to a draw by their National League Premier hosts.

Watford lined up in the 3-5-2 system Mazzarri has favoured throughout his management career, with Nordin Amrabat and Ikechi Anya operating at wing-back.

The Hornets forced the first save of the game 10 minutes in, when Steven Berghuis was played in by Ighalo and stung the palms of Michael Poke from a tight angle.

Miguel Britos then came close from two headers, both from corners, before Mario Suarez’s sweet connection on a 25-yard volley forced Poke into a full-length stop.

The two wing-backs were seeing plenty of action early on and Anya showed a lovely turn of skill to open the scoring, a disguised reverse ball finding Berghuis on the edge of the box.

Poke should, in truth, have been able to save the Dutchman’s resulting shot, but he could only palm it into the bottom corner.

A chance injury would then bring an equaliser within three minutes, when Ismael Yakubu was replaced by Charlie Carter for the hosts.

And when a low free-kick caused confusion in the Watford defence, Carter's first touch was to force the ball over the line to bring the hosts level.

The Hornets’ opener had appeared to awaken the Woking defence and although Watford continued to enjoy spells of pressure, they found clear-cut chances at a premium.

Suarez, perhaps encouraged by his earlier volley, acrobatically took aim again from the edge of the box but this time his effort sailed wide of the far post just after half an hour.

Then Ighalo, who was yet to have a clear sight of goal, jinked his way through the hosts’ defence but blazed over from inside the box.

It was their final meaningful chance of the half, before wholesale changes followed at the break.

Giedrius Arlauskis, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Adlene Guedioura, Ben Watson, Obbi Oulare and £2million summer signing Jerome Sinclair took to the field for a new-look side.

Within two minutes of the restart, a ball across the Woking box fell to Oulare and his shot was deflected behind for a corner, but still Woking were holding firm.

Sinclair was looking lively, however, and showed off his quick-thinking when Britos chipped the ball into the area, and he spun the home defence but saw his effort held by Poke.

Within a minute, he really should have put the visitors in front. Anya found his way to the byline and delivered a perfect cross, but the 19-year-old headed over when well placed.

Watford continued to press and there was a suitably bright reception, with the crowd largely a sea of yellow, for the introduction of Isaac Success after his move from Granada, as they switched to a 4-3-3.

That reception was almost silenced when Woking produced their best chance of the day. Max Kretzcshmar shook off the Watford defence on the edge of the box and forced a smart save from Arlauskis, who needed two strong hands to palm it clear.

The Hornets continued to huff and puff without ever really threatening Poke's goal, and aside from Woking's Charles Banya trying his luck from distance, the game ebbed out to give Watford's new boss an opening draw.

Watford: Gomes (Arlauskis HT); Nyom, Britos (Rowan 85), Hoban (Success 67); Amrabat (Holebas 65), Suarez (Guedioura HT), Capoue (Doucoure HT), Berghuis (Watson HT), Anya; Vydra (Sinclair HT), Ighalo (Oulare HT).

Attendance: 1,280.