Both Joao Pedro and Isaac Success scored as part of a strong lineup for Watford Under 23s on Monday evening, but they were unable to prevent the team from losing 3-2 to Queens Park Rangers.

Adalberto Penaranda completed a front three alongside Success and Pedro, while Domingos Quina, Nathaniel Chalobah and Tom Dele-Bashiru made up the midfield with Callum Whelan.

The Rs raced into a 3-0 lead in the game at Clarence Park, with a brace from Arimide Ote and an effort from Olamide Shodipo putting them firmly in command within 48 minutes, before the two strikers reduced the arrears late on.

The first of those three came after just eight minutes when Oteh rose highest in the box to head home Amrit Bansal McNulty's corner.

Shodipo added a second just before half-time when Myles Roberts was closed down by two QPR players and his clearance only went as far as the winger who finished into the empty net.

The second-half started as badly as the first had ended for Watford, with the visitors adding a third via Oteh's stunning effort that flew into the top corner.

Success and Quina played their part in dragging the Hornets back into the match, with the former feeling aggrieved to have a penalty claim waved away following a challenge by goalkeeper Dillon Barnes and the latter denied by a smart stop.

There was nothing Barnes could do to prevent Success from scoring with 15 minutes left on the clock, before Joao Pedro added his second goal in a Watford shirt nine minutes later to set up a nervy finish.

However, time eventually ran out for the young Hornets who suffered defeat for the first time in seven matches.