Steve Evans felt it was a "cruel way to go out of the cup" after a second-half own goal from defender Scott Wootton was enough for Watford to seal their Emirates FA Cup progression on Saturday afternoon.

Wootton inadvertently turned Ben Watson’s right-wing cross into his own net after 54 minutes to settle an otherwise largely even Fifth Round tie at Vicarage Road.

“It’s a cruel way to go out of the cup,” said Evans.

“I thought they started better than us in the first 10 minutes, but for the next half-an-hour we were by far the better side.

“We played some good, controlled football and attacked both sides of the pitch.

“But after going in at half-time, I don’t think we got back to that level in the second half.

“They stepped it up, but I thought we were still quite resolute. It was just a real cruel way to go out to an own goal.

“But I couldn’t have asked for any more from the players we had out there. We know we’re missing certain qualities.”

On the own goal, which won the game for Watford, Evans added: “I felt for Scott Wootton. He shook hands with all the players and the staff when he came into the dressing room.

“He won’t sleep for a few days now. Scott Wootton, or any defender at this level, usually deals with cross like that 20 or 30 times in a match, but he just got caught in two minds.”