The early dismissal of James Clarridge was a significant factor as Watford Under-21s were beaten 4-1 at Bournemouth this afternoon.

The defender was sent off for two bookable offences after only 10 minutes and, although the Hornets did manage to take the lead, the numerical advantage told as the home side got a grip of the game after half-time.

Aidan Coyne forced an early save from Cherries keeper Mack Allan and Max Kinsey was close to connecting with a corner at the other end before Clarridge picked up his first yellow card.

Josh Keyes then forced another smart stop from Allan, but in 10th minute Clarridge transgressed again and was shown a second yellow, leaving the Hornets to face some 80 minutes with a man less.

The red card forced Watford into an early change with Keyes coming off allowing Ali Gould to come on and drop into defence.

Despite the setback, Watford went ahead in the 33rd minute.

Amin Nabizada, who has been in a rich vein of goalscoring form for the Under-18s, picked the ball up on halfway and accelerated towards the home side’s box before shooting into the bottom corner.

The Hornets couldn’t hold on until the break though, and Bournemouth levelled in the 45th minute when Ben Winterburn saw his shot take a deflection on its way into the net.

Ten minutes after the restart the hosts made their extra man tell again when Ash Clarke hammered the ball home to give them a 2-1 lead.

The game was pretty much over in the 76th minute when Bournemouth made it 3-1 with a well-worked goal.

Koby Mottoh found Kian Tydeman and his cross was headed home by Jonny Stuttle.

Five minutes into stoppage time the Cherries netted their fourth as Winterburn’s through-ball allowed Tydeman to run on and score.

The defeat sees Watford sitting eighth in the Premier League Development League South table.

On Monday (November 25), the Under-21s host Everton at Kings Langley FC’s Orbital Fasteners Stadium, kick-off 7pm.

Watford: Marriott; Abbott, Buers, Ramirez-Espain (Garcia-Romero 78), Clarridge, Kamga, Fraser-Grante (Sikiru 65), Coyne, Lawson (Assiedou 78), Keyes (Gould 18), Nabizada (Torres 65).