Alessio Dionisi says some in Watford side not ready for first team after loss

Watford boss Alessio Dionisi saw his young Hornets crushed 5-1 by League One Peterborough and admitted “we had six players out there who are not ready to play in the first team”.

The Championship club’s squad is paper thin, and Posh ruthlessly exploited the defensive weaknesses with first-half goals from a James Clarridge own goal in the 10th minute and Harry Leonard.

Leonard (51), Bolu Shofowoke (55) and Harrison Jones (64) completed the humiliation before Mamadou Doumbia headed a 73rd-minute consolation for Watford.

Dionisi, with an eye on Saturday’s home Championship match with West Ham, made 11 changes, including a back four made up completely of debutants.

Posh boss Luke Williams said: “Our group were excellent with a real team performance.

“It wasn’t easy because Watford move the ball so well and so quickly we had to deny them space.

“Our fans were brilliant, and there aren’t many things in football better than standing on the grass after the final whistle, facing our supporters, celebrating all together.”

Dionisi said: “After this, we can only look to tomorrow and prepare for West Ham.

“You know our situation. We are not happy, but this is football. Yesterday, the young boys worked well in training, but a match is different.

“We haven’t got the squad to put out the same team every three days.

“I’m sorry for our supporters. The Carabao Cup is important but we have to prepare better for the Championship.”