Yahoo Sport 
Doumbia at the double as Under-21s beat Robins
Mamadou Doumbia scored twice as Watford Under-21s overcame conceding an early goal to end up running riot with a 5-2 thrashing of Bristol City at London Colney.
The 18-year-old has made five brief first-team appearances since joining the Hornets in the summer, but has been keeping loan signing Daniel Jebbison off the bench in recent weeks.
Given a 75-minute run-out in Charlie Daniels’ side, Doumbia scored a couple and also earned himself an assist.
The visitors made the early running and it needed a great block from James Clarridge and then a goalline clearance courtesy of Albert Eames to prevent them from going ahead earlier than they did.
However, the Robins did make the breakthrough in the ninth minute when Raphael Araoye met Elijah Morrison’s corner with a volley into the top corner.
Watford’s response was a low shot from Aidan Coyne which keeper Jose Casa-Grande held, before they levelled in the 21st minute.
Amin Nabizada’s pass eluded Doumbia but ran invitingly for Josh Keyes, who steered the ball wide of the advancing Casa-Grande before slotting into the empty net.
Five minutes later, the Hornets took a 2-1 lead and the same trio were involved. This time Nabizada squared and Doumbia fired into the net with the help of a deflection off Keyes.
But Watford were in front for only five minutes and City were awarded a penalty.
Roraigh Browne, who saved a spot-kick for the Under-21s against Swansea last week, kept out the initial effort from Olly Thomas but Ephraim Yeboah was on hand to convert the rebound.
Zak Fraser-Grante had a close-range effort blocked but then, in a frantic first half, Watford got themselves back in front after 39 minutes with what is becoming a trademark finish from Nabizada.
The 17-year-old collected the ball on the left flank, cut inside and guided a right-foot shot into the bottom corner.
It took Watford 10 minutes on the second half to extend their lead to 4-2, and both Nabizada and Doumbia were involved again.
The winger broke down the left and when the tall striker received his pass in the box with his back to goal, he slipped the ball into the path of Zak Fraser-Grante to shoot home under Casa-Grande.
The goals continued to flow and it was 5-2 after 57 minutes with Doumbia scoring his second.
The big Malian international was set free on the left of the area, sent a City defender to the shops with a graceful cut inside and then calmly placed his shot past the keeper.
In the closing stages Zavier Massiah-Edwards was denied by a good save and substitute Amar Sanghrajka hit the bar.
The victory lifts Watford up to sixth in the Premier League Development League South table, and they are now the division’s second highest goalscorers with only league leaders Charlton having netted more.
The Under-21s play their final game of 2024 on Thursday evening when they travel to face Cardiff City at the Leckwith Stadium (7pm) in the Premier League Cup.
A point in Wales would be enough to return the Hornets to the top of Group F, while a win would take them three points clear of Everton.
Watford: Browne; Eames, Almeida, Coyne (Sanghrajka 62), Clarridge (Gould ht), Abbott (Mullins ht), Massiah-Edwards, Fraser-Grante (Garcia-Romero 62), Doumbia (Lawson 75), Keyes, Nabizada.
