A much-changed Watford side were beaten 3-1 at West Ham United in their last Premier League match before this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final.

Quique Sanchez Flores made his priorities understandably clear, with the team well clear of the relegation zone and their Wembley clash against Crystal Palace on the horizon, but the Hammers took full advantage.

West Ham took the lead after just 11 minutes when in-form striker Andy Carroll converted Dimitri Payet’s cross from close range.

The hosts made it 2-0 before the break when Jose Holebas conceded a penalty and Heurelho Gomes was unable to reproduce his brilliance against West Brom as Mark Noble sent him the wrong way.

Almen Abdi conceded a second penalty, which was the fourth Watford have given away in two matches, after the restart and Noble punished the Hornets as he added West Ham’s third goal.

But the Hornets got on the scoresheet in style after defender Sebastian Prodl struck a superb volley past Adrian in their final trip to Upton Park with the Hammers moving to the Olympic Stadium next season.

Troy Deeney missed a penalty in injury time before Nordin Amrabat was sent off for a picking up a second booking after a challenge on Winston Reid.

As expected, the Hornets made wholesale changes with one eye on Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final. Juan Carlos Paredes, Craig Cathcart and Holebas returned to the defence in place of Allan Nyom, Miguel Britos and Nathan Ake.

Mario Suarez, Valon Behrami and Almen Abdi came into the Hornets’ midfield with Amrabat starting up front. Ben Watson and Deeney were named on the bench with Etienne Capoue and Odion Ighalo left out of the squad.

The Hammers made two changes to their side with Diafra Sakho returning from injury for Emmanuel Emenike and Manuel Lanzini preferred to Victor Moses.

West Ham had the first opportunity of the game but Payet’s free-kick from distance was punched to safety by goalkeeper Gomes.

Slaven Bilic’s side opened the scoring after just 11 minutes when Payet’s cross was turned in from close range by Carroll.

Watford’s first attempt of the match came from Jose Manuel Jurado after his low strike from distance was parried by goalkeeper Adrian.

Jurado then broke down the left and pulled the ball back into the area but his delivery evaded his team-mates and the opportunity was wasted.

Prodl was shown a yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Sakho. Payet took the free-kick but his low strike was comfortably held by Gomes.

Payet was looking a constant threat for the Hammers and went close when he curled a shot narrowly over the Hornets’ bar.

The visitors enjoyed a neat spell of possession which led to Amrabat turning on the edge of the area and firing straight at Adrian.

Payet was at the heart of the hosts’ best moves and the France international attacker went close again but curled his shot just over the bar.

The Irons almost extended their lead before the break through Sakho but his low strike was turned round the post by Gomes.

But Watford conceded a penalty before the break when Holebas climbed all over Cheikhou Kouyate and Gomes could not repeat his weekend heroics as Noble sent him the wrong way.

It should have been 3-0 straight afterwards but Lanzini somehow fired wide from just yards out.

Watford almost pulled one back after the restart when Jurado set up Abdi but he pulled his effort wide from close range.

The Hammers were awarded another penalty in the second half when Abdi tugged back Michail Antonio and Noble confidently tucked home his second spot-kick of the game.

Flores acted by making a double change with Steven Berghuis and Ikechi Anya replacing Jurado and Adlene Guedioura.

The visitors pulled one back midway through the half with a superb volley by Prodl from Berghuis’ free-kick.

Berghuis was looking to make an impression after a difficult first season in the Premier League and fired an ambitious strike from distance just wide of the target.

The Hornets made their final change with less than 15 minutes remaining as Deeney was brought on in place of Abdi.

Anya broke free down the left wing but the Scotland international’s cross was disappointing and failed to find a team-mate.

West Ham nearly added a fourth goal in the last ten minutes through substitute Victor Moses but his close-range strike was blocked by Gomes.

Lanzini was played in on goal after an incisive pass from Antonio but he lofted his chip over the bar.

The Hornets were awarded a penalty at the start of injury time after Angelo Ogbonna fouled Prodl but Deeney’s poor attempt was saved by Adrian.

There was still time for late drama as Amrabat was sent off after being shown a second yellow card for fouling Reid.

West Ham: Adrian; Antonio, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble, Kouyate, Lanzini, Payet (Collins, 90); Sakho (Moses, 77), Carroll (Emenike, 86)

Subs not used: Randolph, Tomkins, Obiang, Byram

Watford: Gomes; Paredes, Prödl, Cathcart, Holebas; Suarez, Behrami; Guedioura (Anya, 57), Jurado (Berghuis, 56), Abdi (Deeney, 75); Amrabat

Subs not used: Pantilimon, Nyom, Britos, Watson

Referee: Mike Dean

Attendance: 34,857