Watford Under-18s were held to a goalless draw away at Birmingham City on Tuesday (April 27), but two Under-15s offered game time by Lead Coach Simon Clark massively impressed while stepping up the age groups.

Defender Travis Akomeah started the game in the Midlands, while Josh Mullins was brought on as a half-time substitute.

“We’ve started the game with an Under-15 as a right-sided centre-half,” said Clark. “Travis, he’s turned 15 in January, he’s never been on the bench, but he’s started and played a full 90 minutes and he was absolutely tremendous.

“Josh Mullins came on at half-time and worked really hard as well and really committed to the game plan. He obviously found it hard at times with Birmingham’s physicality, but his commitment along with Travis and their understanding was really good. I'm really pleased with them.”

Despite being the much younger side, Watford started the game the much brighter of the two teams, countering quickly and creating a number of good chances which unfortunately couldn’t be put away to give the Hornets the lead.

“We changed our game plan a little bit and went a little bit lower, like in our game against Newcastle in the Youth Cup,” said Clark.

“We expected to be without the ball for periods, so it was really important that on the turnover we made good decisions on the ball and at times we did that really well.”

Mac Chisholm was back in goal for the side after having his red card against Sheffield United overturned following a successful appeal. The keeper had a quiet return to the side though, not having to face a single shot on target in the first half.

At half-time Watford were dealt a blow as a trialist picked up a hamstring injury, forcing him off, which gave the chance for Under-15 midfielder Mullins to also play at an age group three years above his own.

Birmingham came out in the second half much stronger than the first but still struggled to create any meaningful chances, with Chisholm only making his first save of the game in the 75th minute.

Watford saw out the remaining 15 minutes with a hunger and tactical nous which Clark felt was particularly apparent in captain Max Thompson's performance.

“I was really impressed with Max, who was playing in a much deeper midfield role than usual,” he said. “He worked so hard without the ball and was really tactically clever, which was really good to see, as he really understood the defensive structure and how we wanted to play the game out.”

The draw sees Watford remain in fourth place in the Under-18 Professional Development League, only behind third-placed Millwall on goal difference. Watford will look to return to winning ways when they host Wigan Athletic on Saturday (May 1).

“We really dug in today,” added Clark. “Will Hall, my left-sided centre-half, was tremendous. His commitment to the team and ability to organise the group alongside Travis was fantastic. They did so well to reduce an older Birmingham side to half-chances, so I'm really pleased with both of them.

“A real strong kudos has to go to the players, the scholars who took the two Under-15s and the trialists under their wing and really committed to a game plan. It was really pleasing and I think that we fully deserved to come out with a 0-0 draw and even on the first-half showing we could have left with a win.”