Fulham’s under 23s survived a shocking start to win their latest pre-season friendly at Watford this morning.

The young Whites fell behind just before the quarter of an hour mark when a cross caught out Taye Ashby-Hammond in the Fulham goal. They spurned several chances to equalise before the break with Jay Stansfield denied by a superb save and Jean-Pierre Tiehi shooting straight at the goalkeeper after a flowing move.

Fulham continued to dominate possession and turned the contest around just three minutes after the break. Terry Ablade equalised when he followed up a smart turn on the edge of the box with a powerful finish and, from Fulham’s very next attack, Tiehi stroked home a second after seizing possession from a Watford defender.

The Hornets did hit the bar with a venomous free-kick from long range and pressed for a late equaliser, but Fulham held firm for a morale-boosting win.

FULHAM U23s: T. Ashby-Hammond; Larkeche, Duru, Murphy, McAvoy; Ameyaw, O’Neill, Hilton; T Ablade, J Stansfield, JP Tiehi. Subs: Las, L. Ashby-Hammond, Pajaziti, Bowat, Biereth.