Watford might not have to look further than within to solve their goalscoring problems after Alex Jakubiak hit his 14th goal in 13 appearances for the Hornets’ Under-21s in this afternoon’s 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town.

Quique Sanchez Flores wasn’t present at Watford’s UCL London Colney training base but assistant coach Alberto Giraldez and goalkeeping coach Paolo De Toffol were, while Dean Austin took in some of the Professional Development League 2 South clash.

The trio will doubtless put in a good word for Jakubiak and his continued form in front of goal is brought into sharper focus by the first team’s failure to net in seven of their last nine.

Netherlands Under-21 international Steven Berghuis was handed a start while Sean Murray was also named in the starting XI in the Under-21s’ first match back on English soil following the Nagjee Cup.

The game was end-to-end in the early stages but failed to live up to its early promise after Ipswich took a tenth-minute lead.

Left-back Kyle Hammond strode into space before firing off the underside of the crossbar into the top right-hand corner to leave Hornets keeper Nathan Gartside with no chance.

Berghuis, whose last involvement for the first team came in the FA Cup third round win over Newcastle United in January, was the brightest spark for the Hornets.

The summer signing from AZ Alkmaar was keen to get on the ball and showed a good range of passing as he tried to make something happen for Harry Kewell’s side.

Watford had a great chance to level just before the half-hour mark but Jakubiak took a touch when he ought to have shot first time.

Berghuis floated a perfect ball out to the byline to the left of Ipswich’s goal. Mahlondo Martin knocked the ball back for Jakubiak but the striker could only shoot straight at keeper Michael Crowe.

The Tractor Boys almost doubled up just before the break. Victor Gulbrandsen’s through ball released Shane McLoughlin but Gartside was down low to block the forward’s strike before Alfie Young cleared.

It was the Hornets who had the first chance of the second period, Michael Folivi denied by Crowe after latching onto Jakubiak’s pass.

On the hour mark Watford got it right with an old fashioned long ball forward. Jakubiak showed great strength to hold off his marker before slipping past Crowe with ease.

Murray was next to go close as Watford stepped it up against the Suffolk side. He let fly only to see Crowe parry his effort back out. Substitute Bernard Mensah was unable to latch onto the loose ball, though.

Having barely had a chance in the second half, Watford were beaten at the death as Hammond grabbed his second of the game by slotting beyond Gartside from close range.

Watford’s best chance to secure a point came and went as Jakubiak and Mensah were denied by Crowe in quick succession.

Watford Under-21s: Gartside; Lewis, Johnson, Young, Eleftheriou; Berghuis (Stewart 74), Murray, Byers (c), Martin (Mensah 55); Folivi, Jakubiak.

Substitutes: Simpson (GK), Hall, Charles.