Watford hosted Lawrie McMenemy’s Southampton in the League Cup on Tuesday September 2, 1980, a week after a comprehensive first-leg defeat to the Saints.

The highly-rated Southampton side, who were second in the First Division at the time, ran out 4-0 winners at The Dell, leaving Graham Taylor’s Hornets with very little hope of progressing to the Third Round and playing for pride at Vicarage Road.

You would have been forgiven for not attending the second leg given the almost insurmountable task ahead of the Golden Boys, but those that did were witnesses to an astounding turnaround that will forever live on in Watford folklore.

Malcolm Poskett and Ray Train netted in the first half to halve the deficit by the break, but still it seemed too tall an order to score three more. Martin Patching scored to bring it to 4-3 in the tie and 3-0 on the day, before Steve Sims’ agonising own goal appeared to put the Saints out of reach.

Now, with less than 20 minutes to go, Watford needed a response. Ross Jenkins, fouled inside the box, was awarded a penalty, with Ian Bolton stepping up to bring the gap back to just a single goal.

Jenkins then popped up with a goal of his own to force extra-time with the score at 5-1. Teenager Nigel Callaghan entered the fray and converted the all-important goal that would put Watford ahead in the tie, before Poskett completed the rout close to the death.

Taylor’s Watford had beaten their First Division opposition, resoundingly, securing a place in the League Cup’s Third Round. 7-1 at Vicarage Road and 7-5 overall, completing an unforgettable comeback.