Watford's Under-23 professional development coach, Hayden Mullins, said his side were suffering from an FA Cup hangover following their 4-1 home defeat to Charlton Athletic on Friday night.

The Hornets went behind to a Wilberforce Ocran goal after just seven minutes, but managed to restore parity through Harry Foster just moments later.

However, Charlton went on to dominate proceedings and goals from Wassim Aouachria, Abraham Odah and Alfie Doughty finished off a miserable performance for Watford.

After the game, Mullins told the club website: "There was a little of a hangover from the FA Youth Cup.

"We were kind of expecting them to be a bit flat after such a high, but we’ve still got to be professional and approach the game right.

"We are asking this group to play for the 18s and the 23s at the minute, so there are going to be times when it’s going to be tough. But they are going to have to expect that if they play in the Championship where you play Saturday, Tuesday most weeks. You have to get hardened up to it pretty quickly."

Young starlet Ryan Cassidy's withdrawal from the tie just five minutes after the break looked to spell further problems for the academy, but Mullins insisted there was nothing too concerning about the substitution and that the striker “had a bit of a headache and a few other bits and pieces.

"He wanted to give it a go and he did, but he still said he wasn’t feeling well after half-time so we pulled him off."