Brentford 0 Watford 1: Bees beaten in pre-season fixture | OneFootball

Brentford were beaten 1-0 by Watford in a behind-closed-doors pre-season fixture at Jersey Road on Saturday.

The four 30-minute periods gave both sides the chance to rotate their squads and build fitness ahead of the new season, with Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey featuring after spells on the sidelines last term.

Watford created the first opportunity of the contest after 10 minutes. A Hornets forward controlled a cross inside the penalty area before firing wide.

Another Watford effort was deflected past Caoimhín Kelleher’s post five minutes later, before Dango Ouattara's header at the other end was comfortably saved.

The second-tier side took the lead after 28 minutes. Kelleher brought down a Watford player inside the penalty area, and the resulting spot-kick was confidently converted.

Brentford went close twice in quick succession as they searched for an equaliser.

Good interplay around the edge of the box created space for Mathias Jensen, who fired narrowly wide, before Keane Lewis-Potter found himself free at the far post but rolled his effort just past the upright.

Lewis-Potter was involved again six minutes later, delivering an excellent ball into the penalty area for Callum Wilson. The striker made good contact, but the Watford goalkeeper produced a strong save. The offside flag was then subsequently raised.

Wilson went close midway through the second period. Hickey crossed from the right and the forward showed sharp movement to reach the ball ahead of his marker, but his glancing effort skimmed wide.

The striker threatened again a minute later. Wilson brought the ball down brilliantly before using a stepover to escape his defender, although his resulting shot travelled narrowly past the post.

Brentford continued to push for an equaliser and produced one of their best moves of the game shortly afterwards.

Lewis-Potter found Ouattara, whose pass into Jaidon Anthony was brought under control superbly. Anthony laid the ball into the path of Mikkel Damsgaard, but the Denmark international steered his effort just wide.

Wilson’s hold-up play then created another opening for Ouattara, whose shot was well saved by the goalkeeper.

Watford had an opportunity to double their advantage shortly after the start of the third period, when a side-footed effort travelled narrowly wide.

Ouattara then sent a dangerous ball across goal towards Kaye Furo, but the Bees striker was unable to reach it ahead of the onrushing goalkeeper.

Damsgaard tested the Watford keeper moments later before Furo thought he had levelled.

Damsgaard cleverly allowed the ball to run through his legs and into the path of the striker, who held off a defender before finding the bottom corner with a low finish. However, the assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside.

Several Brentford B players were introduced during the final 15 minutes and gained further experience alongside the Bees’ senior players, but Watford held on to secure the pre-season victory.