WATFORD were diagnosed with a severe case of the Blues at Southend in the second round of the Carling Cup, as the Shrimpers sent them packing with a goal two goal salvo at Roots Hall.
It meant for a disappointing early end to the 'Orns cup hopes which had started with a sparkling display of youthful enthusiasm in the first round win over Gillingham.
But unlike their League One opponents, Southend were to prove to be no pushovers for a reconstructed Watford side, with goals either side of the break from Charlie MacDonald and Matt Harrold enough to condemn the visitors to their second successive defeat.
It was a case of wholesale changes for boss Boothroyd, as he reverted to the Carling Cup side that had earlier despatched the Gills in this competition.
The solitary change from that evening at Vicarage Road saw winger Alex Campana introduced for Steve Kabba, which allowed Will Hoskins a start in a more natural central attacking role.
Watford made the early running at Roots Hall with Anthony McNamee's skill coming to the fore forcing a corner from which was narrowly headed over by the ever improving Tamas Priskin.
But it was the home side's fans that were up on their feet cheering first, albeit prematurely!
After winning a free-kick just a quarter of an hour into the tie skipper Adam Barratt was off celebrating what he thought was a perfectly good headed goal from Tommy Black's cross, that was until he turned to see the assistant's flag waving in the distance to rule the effort out.
It was an early warning shot across the Watford bows and it sparked them into an immediate response at the other end, which forced Darryl Flahavan to tip over McNamee's shot on the turn.
Despite a torrent of corners and quick attacks from the visiting 'Orns it was it was however, the Shrimpers who fought their way against the current to forge into the lead after 20 minutes of the match.
With Matt Jackson only able to clear Southend's latest attack as far as the half way line, the Hornets defence were caught decidedly flat-footed as Franck Moussa threaded a neat first time ball back into the path of Charlie MacDonald, who rolled Jackson before firing a low diagonal drive into the far corner of Richard Lee's net.
Eight minutes later a certain equaliser was denied when Flahavan denied Priskin from point blank range, after the Hungarian had connected full-on with McNamee's delightful left-wing centre.
Despite a spirited showing, with a corner count stretching into double figures and countless free-kicks coming to nothing, Boothroyd would have been right to have been more than a little frustrated with his youthful charges at the interval.
Reinvigorated, they started the second half with newfound zest and were quickly looking to referee Singh after Priskin's purposeful run was halted only by the bruising Barratt, who collided with him in the area. Nothing was given.
As difficult as Watford's task looked it was made doubly harder when just ten minutes into the second half the Blues netted their second of the night.
After Jordan Parkes conceded a throw-in on the Watford left a neat Southend move resulted in scorer MacDonald crossing low for Matt Harrold to sweep home from close range, leaving Lee with little chance to save.
MacDonald was causing considerable nuisance to the Watford back four and he swiftly troubled them with his pace a few minutes later before shooting only tamely into Lee's arms.
After being suspended for the first round win over Gillingham youngster John Joe O'Toole was finally given his long-awaited debut, as Boothroyd introduced him for fellow Academy graduate Jordan Parkes.
And he was unlucky not to be awarded a spot-kick when he appeared to be shoved to ground in front of the travelling faithful with just 10 minutes of the game to go. A goal at that stage would have made the tie more than a little interesting.
As it was the Hornets were to be frustrated in their pursuit of a goal, even despite possession and set play opportunities, meaning it's once more back to the drawing board ahead of Saturday's home tie with Ipswich in the league.
SOUTHEND UNITED (4-4-2): Flahavan (gk); Francis, Richards, Barrett, Hunt; Black, McCormack (Lokando 90+2), Bailey, Moussa (Hooper 90); MacDonald, Harrold. Subs not used: Collis (gk), Clarke, Gilbert.
WATFORD (4-4-2): Lee (gk), Mariappa, Jackson, Avinel, Parkes (O'Toole 71), Campana; Bangura (c), Rinaldi, McNamee; Priskin, Hoskins. Subs not used: Loach (gk), Osborne, Forbes, L Henderson.
BOOKINGS: SOUTHEND UNITED; Barrett (foul 5), Francis (foul 35), McCormack (foul 40). WATFORD; Avinel (foul 24), Bangura (unsporting behaviour 40), Rinaldi (dissent 70).
GOALS: SOUTHEND UNITED; MacDonald (20), Harrold (55). WATFORD; none.
REFEREE: J Singh
ATTENDANCE: 5,554 (1,140 Watford supporters)
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