New Under-21s lead coach Charlie Daniels took charge of his first game today – but only had 11 players on the pitch for 20 minutes!

Defender Scott Holding was shown a second yellow for handball and consequently had first use of the showers but the Hornets still managed to claim a 1-1 draw away at Birmingham City’s Wast Hills training ground.

The young Hornets were captained by midfielder Luigi Gaspar, son of Arsenal’s technical director Edu.

There were debuts for defender Charlie Stallard who joined recently after spells with Cambridge United and St Neot’s Town, and forward Laken Torres who moved to Vicarage Road from Chesterfield in the summer.

Having gone down to 10 men so early, Watford battled to go into half-time goalless with the home side coming close when Brandon Khela shot just wide after 34 minutes.

After the break it was the 10 men who made the better start and both Torres and Watkiss forced saves from home keeper Brad Mayo before Watford went ahead in the 53rd minute when James Collins raced clear of the Blues’ defence to slot calmly home.

The hosts responded and came very close to levelling after 69 minutes when Khela again threatened, having his initial shot saved by Jonathan Macaulay before his follow-up was blocked on the line.

It was only a short reprieve for Watford though as, in the 75th minute, a fine cross from Josh Williams was volleyed home by Junior Dixon.

Watford had to survive something of a late onslaught as both Dixon and Romelle Donovan went close during eight minutes of stoppage time.

Watford: Macaulay, Eames, Stallard, Davis, Holding, Mullins, Adu-Poku, Gaspar, Collins, Torres, Watkiss. Subs: Ortelli, Trialist, Hamiga, Balogun, Taylor.

• Tom Cleverley’s first game as Under-18 lead coach ended in a 2-2 draw against Sheffield United at London Colney on Saturday.

New signing Jonathan Lawson netted his first goal in Watford colours with a close-range strike that saw them lead 1-0 at the break.

Keeper Gabriel Ortelli kept out a Billy Blacker penalty shortly after the interval, but the Blades did equalise when awarded a second spot-kick, this time converted by Marshall Francis.

Prince Sikiru restored Watford’s lead, but the visitors replied once more with a strike from Blacker as the points were shared.

Watford: Ortelli, Casey, King (Bolding 56), Ramirez-Espain, Wachowicz, Georgiou, Bowlin (Odiase 63), Sanghrajka (Riza 74), Lawson, Sikiru, Nabizada (Smith 63).