Watford’s Under-23s were no match for Hull City on Monday as they went down to a resounding 4-1 defeat.

Much of the damage was done in a first half which saw the Golden Boys concede three goals without reply to trail heavily at the break.

Ryan Cassidy hit back for Watford in the second half but the Hornets couldn’t compete with a well-drilled Hull side which added a fourth goal to condemn them to a heavy loss.

Watford started the game with a 4-3-3 formation which allowed Harry Forster, Michael Folivi and Cassidy plenty of freedom to express themselves.

The approach saw both Cassidy and Folivi go close with close range efforts, but Watford’s threat soon waned as Hull took control.

The home side were ahead with 13 minutes of the clock when Lewis Ritson found the net with a header before Robbie McKenzie made it two with a rising drive.

Watford’s first half woe was compounded further when the game’s outstanding player Keane Lewis-Potter got in on the act by breaking through two challenges and finding the top corner.

Half-time saw Watford change to a 4-4-2 formation in an attempt to get back into the game and they did just that six minutes after the restart.

Cassidy once again showed his nose for goal as the teenager made the most of an error from Hull’s keeper at a corner to score from a matter of yards out.

Any hopes Watford harboured of mounting an unlikely comeback to take anything from the game were ended just after the hour when Lewis-Potter again took centre-stage.

He produced a calm finish to restore his side’s three goal advantage and from them on Watford never looked like getting back into the game.

Watford: Howes; Eleftheriou (Tricker, 63), Hudson, Suckling, Holsgrove; Charles (C), Maclean, Bennetts (Sankoh, 46); Forster (Sesay, 75), Cassidy, Folivi.

Subs: Hoskins (GK), Tricker, Hutchinson.