Harry Kewell says Watford’s Under-21 side must realise that skill alone will not win matches after the young Hornets were beaten 5-3 by Crewe Alexander in Professional Development League Two South yesterday.

Marcus Haber put Crewe in front at Gresty Road but the Golden Boys quickly hit back and an own goal from Jon Guthrie levelled the contest. Striker Michael Folivi then netted to put Watford 2-1 ahead at the interval.

The hosts were reinvigorated after the break, however. Ryan Wintle equalised for the Railwaymen and George Cooper put home side in front. The midfielder then slotted home his second and Crewe’s fourth of the afternoon.

Dennon Lewis pulled a goal back for Watford but Wintle struck in the final stages to ensure there were no late nerves for the hosts.

A disappointed Kewell told Watford’s website after the defeat: “It doesn’t take skill all the time to win games. These boys don’t grasp that at the moment. They’ve got to sacrifice themselves for at least 93 minutes, one day a week.

“They should be doing that in training so when it comes to a match day they are implementing everything they’ve done in training.”

He added: “In the first half of the game, we played them off the park. Our pressing was good, although our final pass was a little bit off which was a shame. But we go into half-time and I think that the (Watford's players) thought the game was over because they had control.

“Then Crewe pushed a player further up and they just worked harder. They got a lucky goal to get back into the game through a deflection. But if you have a shot anything can happen.

“As soon as that went in I only saw one winner. We were off the pace, we looked sloppy and we looked tired.

"We didn’t look like we were in the game and there are no excuses because we were better than them in the first half. Crewe just wanted it more.”