A brace from Alex Jakubiak helped Watford’s Under-23s kick off their pre-season schedule in style with a 4-1 win over Brentford B at the club’s London Colney training ground.

Jakubiak, who scored seven goals in 18 appearances during an impressive loan spell with Falkirk last season, notched a goal in each half, while further strikes from Michael Folivi and substitute Ryan Suckling helped secure the Hornets the win.

Head coach Hayden Mullins named a strong starting line-up for the game, which included the likes of Dion Pereira, Joy Mukena and Lewis Gordon among others and they started brightly when Folivi tested Brentford’s debutant goalkeeper Patrik Gunnarsson with a low effort from the edge of the area.

That proved to be a sign of things to come, as Folivi would put the Hornets in front moments later after good work from Jakubiak, who skilfully worked his way past Brentford’s defence before squaring for his strike partner, who poked home from close range.

However, the Bees cranked up the pressure after falling behind, with Joe Hardy coming close twice, before Mukena had to be alert to divert the ball over the bar to prevent one of Brentford’s trialists from racing through.

Sam Howes then made a smart save from Hardy and Watford made Brentford pay for that missed opportunity, as they went straight down the other end and added a second through Jakubiak, who turned a low effort into the bottom corner after Randell Williams’ cutback.

A superb block from Nikolaj Kirk then prevented Folivi from adding a third, but the Hornets wouldn’t have to wait too long to increase their advantage, with Jakubiak notching his second just 13 minutes after half-time.

Gunnarsson wouldn’t want to look back on this one, as Jakubiak seized on the Brentford goalkeeper’s indecision after a back pass, before calmly slotting the ball into the back of an empty net to make it 3-0 to the hosts.

Mullins made nine changes to the side on the hour mark and they would have made it 4-0 shortly after if it weren’t for a good save from Gunnarsson.

Kirk then pulled one back for Brentford as he cut inside after being released by Ilias Chatzitheodoridis and fired an effort past Howes at the second time of asking, after his first attempt was well blocked.

It was almost a second for the Bees minutes later, but Hardy couldn’t find the target after being played in behind the Watford defence and the Hornets would wrap up the victory eight minutes from time through Suckling, who volleyed home after a corner wasn’t cleared.

Watford’s Under-23s are back in action this weekend when they take on Welling United in their second pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Watford starting XI: Howes (GK); Forster, Mukena, Leighton, Gordon; Pereira, Charles, Williams; Folivi, Jakubiak, Cassidy.

Brentford B: Gunnarsson (GK); Talbro, Racic, Edobor, Chatzitheodoridis; Kirk (Trialist, 76), Coote, Finnsson; Trialist (Mitchell 57), Hardy (Trialist, 76), Trialist (Titov, 57).