A third successive defeat without scoring for Watford Under-21s but this afternoon’s 5-0 loss against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane was at least partly mitigated by the home side fielding a far stronger than average side.

It’s rare that an Under-21 team has a couple of strikers with 33 Premier League appearances between them this season, a midfielder who has played at a World Cup finals and keeper with some 250-plus senior appearances, but that’s what United had at their disposal.

And in Will Osula they had a man who appeared to be bang in form that pretty much ended the game as a contest inside the first half an hour.

The 20-year-old Danish Under-21 international, who has had 19 PL outings for the Blades this season, had completed a hat-trick by the 30th minute and looked a constant threat.

Meanwhile out wide was another 20-year-old in Andre Brooks, who has played 14 times in the top-flight this season.

In midfield, the home side fielded Anis Slimane, a £2.5m purchase from Brondby in the summer who has 34 caps for Tunisia and played twice at the 2022 World Cup Finals.

Goalkeeper Adam Davies is a 31-year-old with more than 250 league appearances and four caps Wales.

So while Watford had starting XI sprinkled with a good amount of senior experience, it was nothing like the home side’s

James Morris, who had impressed when coming on as a sub for the first team at Southampton on Saturday, started on the left of defence, while there was welcome game time for midfielder Jack Grieves who has been an unused sub regularly for the first team with Tom Cleverley saying his work in training deserved more time on the pitch.

Striker Tobi Adeyemo has been on loan at National League side Wealdstone, but having only played 71 minutes in four games he started this afternoon – however, he limped off before half-time.

It was a pretty one-sided affair and means the young Hornets have conceded 11 goals in their last three games without reply.

Indeed, they have let in 61 goals this season – the second worst in the league – and are conceding at a rate of 2.5 goals per game.

Inside the first two minutes Louis Marsh got in behind the Watford defence on the left, checked inside and curled a low shot that Alfie Marriott did well to push away.

Andre Brooks followed up as the ball ran loose but, from a tight angle, screwed his shot high and wide.

Five minutes later Watford should have been ahead. Grieves crossed from the left, the home defence didn’t clear and the ball landed kindly for Adeyemo ten yards out, but he sent his shot straight at keeper Adam Davies.

The hosts took duly the lead in the 10th minute when Marsh combined with Osula who burst into the box and steered a shot past Marriott.

Soon after a slip from Aidan Coyne presented the ball to Sydie Peck just outside the box, and he stepped past a tackle before sending a tame shot wide.

The Hornets tried to respond and when Grieves centred from the left, Laken Torres sent his header at the keeper.

However, the home side were on top and made it 2-0 after 17 minutes.

Jay Tinsdale started the move on the left, his pass allowed Marsh to get to the by-line and pull the ball back for Osula to swivel on the edge of the six-yard box and fire home.

Marriott was well positioned and showed good handling when fielding a shot from Brooks in 29th minute.

However, the keeper didn’t have much chance a minute later as the powerful and impressive Osula burst away down the right, outstripped Victor Wachowicz for pace and then held the defender off before firing an angled drive inside the far post for a quickfire hat-trick.

It could easily have been 4-0 in the 39th minute when Brooks played a one-two inside the box with Peck but, with only Marriott to beat, stabbed his shot wide.

A minute later Osula threatened again, controlling the ball inside the area but then seeing his low shot come back off the base of the post.

Adeyemo, who was on the receiving end of a fair but hefty tackle earlier in the half, went down again in the 43rd minute and was replaced by Jonathan Lawson.

Eleven minutes into the second half Slimane slid the ball into Osula who cut in from the left and fired a low shot that was deflected just wide.

In the 59th minute United made it 4-0. Grieves played an errant pass in midfield and Brooks seized upon it, crossed halfway and then slid the ball to Peck on his right, who planted a shot beyond Marriott.

Three minutes later it was five as Watford again gave the ball away in midfield, substitute Blacker played it forward to Brooks and he calmly shifted it left for Marsh to fire home.

With 15 minutes to go full-back Sam Curtis pushed forward, checked inside and curled a 20-yard effort that Marriott dived to hold.

The defeat leaves Watford sixth in the Premier League Development League South table, but they are only three points ahead of Charlton who have two games in hand and a 27-goal superior goal difference.

Watford: Marriott; Eames, Morris, Coyne, Clarridge, Wachowicz (Fraser-Grante ht), Grieves (Hamiga 63), Davis, Adeyemo (Lawson 43), Torres, Watkiss (Triallist 63). Sub not used: Macaulay