An uninspiring third-round FA Cup tie at Vicarage Road saw Watford battle to a 1-0 victory over Scunthorpe.

Grzegorz Rasiak's goal midway through the second-half was enough to put the Championship side in the draw for the next round.

Watford manager Brendan Rodgers handed debuts to his two new loan signings as they took on high-flying League Two side Scunthorpe.

Arsenal's Gavin Hoyte took his place at right-back while Jack Cork of Chelsea started in the middle of the park against one of his former loan sides.

The Championship side started brightly with John-Joe O'Toole and Ross Jenkins controlling the pace of the game from midfield.

However the first attack of note went to Scunthorpe after nine minutes when Garry Thompson, back in the Iron side after an foot injury, beat Jon Harley for pace on the right-hand side and cut the ball back but Paul Hayes could not get a touch goalbound.

The hosts, without a win in three, failed to impose themselves on the game and showed their lack of confidence as they repeatedly lost the ball in midfield to an Iron side determined to out-muscle and get in the faces of their hosts.

Martyn Woolford had a shot saved by Hornets goalkeeper Scott Loach as the visitors went in search of an opening goal.

Scunthorpe continued pressurising the home defence and their next chance fell to Thompson who drilled the ball goalbound from 20 yards but Loach got down well at his near post to save and keep his side in the match.

Harley had the hosts' first real chance of the match four minutes before the break when his left-footed shot flew wide of the upright.

The second half started in much the same fashion as the first with Nigel Adkins' League One side continuing to dominate the chances - first Gary Hooper went clear but pulled his shot wide, before Woolford's cross was cleared by Jenkins before it could reach two Iron attackers in the area.

Much to the fans displeasure Rodgers took O'Toole off and replaced him with Rasiak as he looked to inject some attacking impetus into his side.

Moments after Grant McCann should have given the visitors the lead when his shot from the edge of the area rebounded off the post and away to safety.

Watford took a surprise lead against the run of play after 67 minutes - Jobi McAnuff's outswinging corner was flicked on by Adrian Mariappa and Rasiak poked the ball over the goalline from close range.

Despite the goal, neither side looked to inject any pace in the game and it continued at a slow tempo until Mariappa drilled a shot inches wide with nine minutes remaining.

Scunthorpe looked to push forward as time ran out but they could not find a way through a packed Watford defence.

Teams

Watford: Loach, Hoyte (Bridcutt 83), DeMerit, Mariappa, Cork, Harley, McAnuff, O'Toole (Rasiak 59), Jenkins, Priskin (Bromby 89), Smith.

Subs Not Used: Lee, Doyley, Hoskins, Young.

Booked: O'Toole.

Goals: Rasiak 67.

Scunthorpe: Murphy, Wright, Byrne, Pearce, Williams, Thompson (Sparrow 73), Woolford (Hurst 90), McCann, Togwell (Forte 87), Hayes, Hooper.

Subs Not Used: Lillis, Crosby, Mirfin, Picton.

Booked: Byrne.

Att: 8,690

Ref: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire).