THE League Cup returns to Vicarage Road this evening as the Hornets look to start another long relationship with one of the domestic cup competitions.

League One side Gillingham are the visitors to Hertfordshire and they will be looking for their first victory of the season following their disappointing 1-0 defeat on the opening day to Cheltenham Town.

The Hornets will be favourites but Ronnie Jepson and his men shouldn't be underrated and Aidy Boothroyd's side will know that they'll have to be on their guard. The Carling Cup last campaign proved a difficult stumbling block as Boothroyd's young side needed a penalty shoot out to overcome Accrington, before a victory over Hull City prior to being knocked out on spot kicks by Glenn Roeder's Newcastle United at Vicarage Road. 

The Gills lost star man Matt Jarvis to Wolves, our opponents from last Saturday, during the summer. During the close season the experienced pair of Simon Royce and Steve Lomas have arrived from QPR while ex-Hornet Clint Easton left the Priestfield for Hereford. Former Fulham defender Duncan Jupp is also on the books at the Gills following a move there in May 2006 from Southend.

Ronnie Jepson has been charge at the Priestfield since November 2005

The Hornets' frontline is well connected with the Gills as Marlon King, Darius Henderson and Moses Ashikodi have all played for the Kent based club.

TEAM NEWS:
The opening day didn't go well for Jepson and his side. As well as defeat they saw two men sent off. Ex-Northern Ireland midfielder Lomas will be serving a one match suspension tonight as will fellow defender Ian Cox. 

The experienced Jupp also misses out with a hamstring injury meaning three defenders miss the cup clash for Jepson. Royce is expected to continue in goal while fellow keeper Kelvin Jack returns to full fitness.

Striker Gary Mulligan is in the race for a starting position in attack alongside David Graham, although ex-Rotherham forward Delroy Facey, who bagged ten league goals last term, will want to stay in the side and make amends for Saturday's defeat.

Simon King may be in line for a start, in place of the suspended Cox, with Mark Bentley and Barry Cogan also in the running for starts.

HEAD-TO-HEAD:
Watford edge the head-to-head contest by some way with 37 victories to their name, while the Gills have 23. Tonight sees the first League Cup meeting between the sides, the clubs have met twice before in the FA Cup - with the Hornets coming out on top on both occasions.

LAST TIME THE TEAMS MET:
The sides last met in February 2005, a Chris Eagles 90th minute strike sealed a 2-0 victory for the Golden Boys in the Championship. Lloyd Doyley, Jay DeMerit, Gavin Mahon and Anthony McNamee are all survivors from the winning squad that day. 

HORNETSBET

Home win - 1/2
Draw - 14/5
Away win - 5/1

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