Watford’s Under-18s fought back to earn a point against Coventry City at the weekend despite having to play the second half with ten men.

The Golden Boys started brightly and they were a whisker away from taking the lead on the half-hour mark when they struck the cross-bar, before Dom Hutchinson slammed home, only for his effort to be ruled out after the referee decided that the ball had gone out of play.

Ryan Maclean had fired straight at Coventry’s Tom Billson before that effort and with just seconds of the first half remaining, the game would turn on its head when the Hornets’ Jack Burchell was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Sonny Blu Lo-Everton came on for Sam Sesay at the break as Watford responded to that dismissal, but Coventry would make their numerical advantage count with half an hour remaining thanks to William Bapaga’s strike.

Watford rallied, though, and they missed a golden opportunity to get back on level terms when Hutchinson rattled the bar from the penalty spot after the referee noticed a push inside the area.

Down the other end, the Golden Boys had Michael Mullings to thank when he showed good awareness to clear a goal-bound header off the line and the defender would make another telling contribution moments later, when he kick started the move which led to Watford’s equaliser.

Mullings would stop a Coventry counter attack when he excellently flicked the ball away from a forward and his clearance was picked up by substitute Blu Lo-Everton.

Everton would then play in fellow substitute Tom Horsewood who brilliantly fired past Billson under pressure to get Watford deservedly back on level terms.

Horsewood could have secured the Hornets an unlikely victory deep into stoppage time but he was denied by a fantastic save from Billson, meaning the Golden Boys had to settle for a point.

Elsewhere, Marvin Zeegelaar was sent off for Watford’s Under-23s, who were beaten 2-0 by a strong Millwall side at the New Den on Friday.

Zeegelaar was sent off for violent conduct in the second half after the Hornets had fallen behind.

Miguel Britos also featured for the Under-23s on Friday and he was at fault for the first goal following the restart, with the Uruguayan centre-back conceding a penalty after fouling Rob Harvey.

Tom Bradshaw, who moved to Millwall in the summer from Barnsley, slotted home the spot-kick and he doubled his advantage seconds later from distance.

Despite being a man down, the Under-23s did show plenty of spirit, with Ryan Cassidy hitting the post for the Hornets during the first half.

Speaking to Watford’s website, Under-23s coach Hayden Mullins said: “The penalty looked harsh. I haven’t seen it back but it felt really harsh.

“The second one came so soon after so it must be down to switching off. That’s the end of the game. So it’s one decision and one moment of switching off that has cost us.

“They showed good character when we went down to 10 men. It was a good test for the boys. We knew it would be tough, but there were some real positives. It could have been a different game but it wasn’t to be.”