Watford beat Brentford in the Hornets’ final friendly game before they return to Premier League action next week inside an eerily quiet Vicarage Road, closed off to the public due to the coronavirus outbreak.

An Etienne Capoue stunner midway through the first-half was enough to send the hosts in with a lead at the break before substitute Ismaila Sarr scrambled in goal number two late on in a second-half short on chances.

A total of 21 players featured for Watford throughout the match, with captain Troy Deeney making his return during the second-half, after he opted to miss out on the initial stages of training due to concerns regarding Covid-19.

Ignacio Pussetto was the only Hornet to play for the full 90 minutes.

It was Danny Welbeck who found space to create Watford’s first real chance of the game after 12 minutes, following Andre Gray’s intuitive dummy, but dragged wide from 25 yards.

Some patient build up play then gave Tom Cleverley the first shot on target in the match about ten minutes later, but he drove straight down the middle of David Raya and it was easily kept out.

There was little Raya could do about the opening goal however. Etienne Capoue collected the ball 25-yards out and, under little pressure from the Bees, picked out the top corner with a stunning strike.

It took until the 66th minute for the next clear chance to come. Substitute Ismaila Sarr beat the Brentford offside trap and tried to square for Abdoulaye Doucoure in the centre, but some smart defending from the visitors smothered the danger.

With just under 15 minutes remaining on the clock, Brentford had their best chance of the game when Tarique Fosu took aim from the edge of the area, but his shot skipped wide of both the goal and the diving Heurelho Gomes. 

Said Benrahma might have done better when he found himself on the end of a cross, in the centre of the Watford box, but he leant back too far and fired over the top.

The lead was eventually doubled in the last minute of the game was substitute Sarr was able to capitalise on a scramble in the penalty area before jabbing past Raya. 

It was a decent run around for both sides with their respective leagues both resuming next week, and from the hosts’ point of view a well-worked victory and clean sheet.

However, the contest was fairly low in intensity and much tougher challenges will surely come once the Premier League returns.