Adrian Blake scored twice as Watford Under-21s beat Birmingham City 3-1 at St Andrew’s this evening.

It was a fourth win in six games for Omer Riza’s side, and they restricted the home team to very little with a solid defensive performance that always enabled the Hornets to then offer a threat on the counter-attack.

When they got into the final third they did well to convert possession into shots, and home keeper Mayo made a few decent stops to deny Watford more goals.

Sierralta played an hour at centre-half, the Chile international having not featured since late January after breaking a toe.

There was also a start for Morris, but his night ended early when he picked up what looked like a foot injury after just more than half an hour.

Blake’s goals and enthusiastic running on the ball obviously caught the eye, but there was another impressive display from Collins, who showed neat touches when holding the ball up and also turning and running at the home defence. His late goal from the spot was just reward.

Macaulay made a fine save early on, getting down quickly to turn a near-post effort from Birmingham’s triallist round the target.

The Watford keeper then had his heart in his mouth after 14 minutes, slipping as Abbot played a 25-yard back-pass and both could only watch as the ball trickled just wide of the empty goal with Sierralta chasing back on the cover.

The Hornets carved out their first chance in the 32nd minute with a quick counter-attack. Touray broke through the middle and then slipped a smart pass to his right where Blake let fly, forcing home keeper Mayo to push his rising effort wide.

Watford were forced into a change five minutes later as Morris who, had been on the receiving end of a heavy challenge a little earlier, went down again and this time was replaced by Hamiga.

Just as it looked like the opening half would peter out with no goals, the Hornets were awarded a penalty in stoppage time.

Blake cut in from the left and a couple of chops and checks inside the box forced Blues defender Williams to slide in. The ball struck his arm, the referee pointed to the spot and Blake tucked away the spot kick.

One interesting moment came just before the penalty was taken. Collins had the ball and seemingly was going to take the kick but Blake got hold of it and took it himself.

There was still time for Blues keeper Mayo to make another save, this time parrying and then holding a firm shot from Touray, who had forced his way into the box on the left.

Four minutes after the restart Collins did well to keep the ball in play on the right flank and then broke into the box. He had to check, but smartly rolled the ball into the path of Delyfer who smashed a shot into the side netting.

A couple of minutes later Blake broke from midway inside his own half, attacking the heart of the Blues defence and then playing a pass to Collins. He cut in and curled a shot just over the target.

There was a scare in the 58th minute as a long clearance from Mayo sent Williams away down the left, and the striker fired just wide of the upright with Macaulay at full stretch.

Watford responded and a slick move involving the triallist, Blake and Collins ended with Delyfer releasing a shot that a Blues defender did well to deflect wide by throwing himself at it.

The Hornets doubled their lead after 65 minutes. Substitute Davis nicked the ball on the right and broke with Watford overloading the home defence on the counter.

He played a low cross which Blake controlled, checked inside a challenge and then thumped past Mayo.

With twelve minutes to go Mayo made a fine save to tip away a half-volley from Collins after the striker had seen his first effort blocked.

Beresford headed the ball into the net with three minutes to go, but the effort was ruled out for offside, the second occasion the linesman had raised his flag to deny the home side a goal.

In stoppage time Mayo was very quickly off his line to block at the feet of substitute Osborn.

Then three minutes into the additional period Williams scored the home side's consolation when he drilled home a low cross from Ellis at the near post.

However any hopes of a late revival for the home side ended when, a minute later, Mayo dragged down Touray in the box as they contested a through ball.

The referee pointed to the spot and showed Mayo a red card. The home side sent on substitute keeper O'Sullivan, and his first action - seven minutes into time added on - was to pick the ball out of the net after Collins fired the spot kick into the corner.

Watford: Macaulay; Coyne, Morris (Hamiga 37), Fankwe, Abbott, Sierralta (C Davis 61), Blake (Osborn 90), Delyfer (Taylor 90), Touray, Collins, Triallist: Sub not used: Ortelli