Outcast Brice Dja Djedje scored in a rare appearance in a Watford shirt as he helped the club's Under-23 side to a 2-1 win at Southampton last night.

The Ivory Coast international has been speaking his mind in the French media over the past fortnight over the decision to leave him out of the Hornets' Premier League squad, and has said he is being treated like an animal by the club.

But he showed no signs of ill-feeling as he rifled in a second-half goal from the edge of the Saints' box to double Watford's lead on the South Coast last night.

Michael Folivi had put the Hornets in front with a penalty he won himself before the break, and took the ball out of Dja Djedje's hands before firing into the corner.

The Saints had an opportunity to level things up themselves from 12 yards when the referee awarded a second spot kick of the night after 33 minutes, but Marcus Barnes' penalty was kept out with a great stop from Nathan Gartside.

The pressure increased from Southampton after half-time, with Watford having largely controlled the opening 45 minutes, but once it subsided the visitors regained their dominance.

Dennon Lewis saw a goalbound shot deflected just wide, Max Ryan headed over and Dja Djedje fired wide as the Hornets failed to cement their one-goal lead.

But they finally did so when the ex-Marseille defender, playing in central midfield, took aim from 25 yards and fired an unstoppable shot beyond the helpless goalkeeper.

Callum Slattery gave Saints some hope with 11 minutes to go as he fired in another penalty, but Gartside pulled off another fine save late on to preserve victory.

Watford Under-23s: Gartside; Rowan, Ryan, Mukena; Eleftheriou, Djèdjè, Stewart, Mason; Lewis (Williams 60), Folivi (Sesay 86), Pereira (Charles 70).

Not used: Hoskins, Bradbury.