Harry Kewell was still able to take some positives from Watford Under-21s’ 2-0 defeat against Sheffield United this evening and feels there has been improvement from his side in their first five games together.

The Blades, coached by former captain and centre-half Chris Morgan, were more robust and direct and claimed a thoroughly-deserved win in the Under-21 Professional Development League Two South thanks to a pair of first-half goals from Diego De Girolamo.

Despite an improved showing in the second 45, Kewell’s side never truly troubled United goalkeeper Jake Eastwood and extended their winless run to five under the Australian.

Speaking afterwards, Kewell pulled no punches in his assessment of what had been a largely underwhelming display under the lights at Vicarage Road.

He said: “We are very young. A lot of these boys have just come out of the Under-18s. A lot of these teams we have been playing have been together for a few years.

“We are slowly getting it together and although results aren’t great we are slowly getting better. Overall, I’m disappointed and they are disappointed, too.”

Asked what he had made of the young side’s performance, the former Liverpool and Leeds United winger tempered his criticisms.

He said: “There are positives and negatives.

"If you want to nail it down, the negative is we don’t work hard enough when we haven’t got the ball. In every game we have played, when we have the ball, we have been pressed. When it’s switched around, and they have the ball, we let them turn around and pick a pass.

“The positive is we want the ball. I sat there and listened to them [Sheffield United] talk about kicking it in the channels, knocking it long. That’s great, if that’s what people want, and it got them the result.

“Sometimes you have to do that. But I want to bring my players up and make sure they are comfortable on the ball.

“We do try to thread the needle on a few too many passes but sometimes you have got to take a risk and not be safe all the time.

“It’s about gritting it out and going back to the drawing board. The boys are up for it and they want a challenge.”

The young Hornets were improved in the second period but still failed to trouble the Blades’ backline on more than a couple of occasions, with Dennon Lewis lashing wide following a rare foray into the visitors’ penalty area.

“You could look at as if Sheffield United took their foot off the pedal but we got stuck in in the second half,” explained Kewell. “We needed to press more and play with more intensity.

“But it’s good that we have pressing to work on. I’d rather that than have to work on passing.”