A WATFORD XI lost 3-1 to Wealdstone last night (Wednesday) and Malky Mackay wants to see more from the young players who took to the field.

The reserve team boss saw his inexperienced 11 go a goal down early on at Ruilsip Manor FC and the game was slipping away from the Golden Boys by the time the half time whistle was blown, as the Stones had fired three past Scott Loach in the Watford goal.

Lewis Young nodded a far post header in for the Hornets but the visitors couldn't build on that strike - despite a couple of efforts from Moses Ashikodi at the start of the second period.

The Scotsman joined www.watfordfc.com to give his view on the game. He said: "We came and played a non league team who were big, strong men - they like to pass the ball as well but we have got to make sure that we stand up and be counted.

"We've got youngsters here who want to go and play Championship football and in doing that they're going to have to play against the physicality of the league and you have to stand up and be counted."

Wealdstone, backed by a noisy local crowd, looked in an uncompromising mood. They bossed the early proceedings and could have further added to the scoreline.

It was the physical side of the game which concerned Mackay the most and he wants his youngsters to stamp their authority on the match more - and last night he felt his side didn't help themselves by not defending properly. 

He added: "We didn't defend set pieces well enough so it's a learning curve and an eye opener to see the standards they've got to get to in terms of matching Wealdstone physically. If they do that they've got a chance, if they don't match them physically then they aren't going to match Championship teams physically.

"We've got young boys in men's bodies - that's different from experienced individuals who are big, strong men. They were playing against men last night.

"Gordon Bartlett has got a well drilled, well-run unit here. They are men who want to show what they can do against Watford."

The wake-up call for the young Golden Boys has come at the right time with further pre-season fixtures to come - the way they react and handle the defeat is key to what the future holds.

Mackay commented: "There's a lot of young boys out there who have got to realise that there is that physical side to the game as well.

"They have to compete - it was a good thing for them, if they can take a lesson from that then they can go on and realise that they've got to compete against the man they're playing against before they get the right to play.

"There's no doubt we've got some great young talent but they've got to apply themselves physically to make sure their talent comes out.

"They need more time on the pitch and we had some youngsters last night and some Academy lads just to dip them in and give them a taste of it. The ones who started the game had to start getting 60-70 minutes and that's what counts."

A Watford XI will travel to Winchester City on Sunday 27 July, kick off is at 3pm.

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