Watford Under-18s suffered their second heavy defeat in eight days on Saturday as they were thumped 5-0 by West Ham United.

The Hornets were beaten 4-1 away to West Ham United on April 9 and they were unable to bounce back at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath at the weekend.

It is a slightly surprising couple of results considering Watford Under-18s had only lost two of the previous 19 games in all competitions prior to the West Ham defeat.

Juan Serrano handed Villa the lead on Saturday with a header and Samir Carruthers’s goal meant the hosts went into the break 2-0 up.

Villa were comfortable in the second half and completed the rout with goals from captain Daniel Johnson, Ebby Nelson-Addy and a Carruthers’ penalty.

Watford are currently in third place in the Under-18s Premier Academy League Group B and are five points from league-leaders Leicester City, although the Hornets have played a game more.