Filip Djuricic inspired Saints’ young guns to the semi-finals of the Under-21s Premier League Cup as he scored one and created another to help Martin Hunter’s side defeat Watford 3-2 at St Mary’s.

The 23-year-old Serbian international might have been a little out of place in a game featuring players still learning their trade, but got some much needed game time in English football following his deadline day move to Saints.

Djuricic produced the assist for the first goal just over a minute into the match and scored another just 15 seconds into the second half.

He bagged 68 minutes to add to his brief cameo appearance for the first team against West Ham on Wednesday night as he looks to get himself fully fit and firing ahead of the visit of Liverpool a week on Sunday.

Djuricic aside it was a significant result for Saints as they reached the last four of the competition, where they will face Derby at St Mary’s.

Saints could not have dreamt of a better start as Djuricic helped them to take the lead just 65 seconds after kick-off.

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He spotted the run of Jake Sinclair and slid a perfectly weighted ball into the winger’s path as he burst into the area.

Sinclair showed great composure to lift a finish over the advancing Watford keeper Rene Gilmartin for 1-0.

Watford were understandably reeling for a time following their early setback, allowing Saints the opportunity to carve out a few chances to really hammer home their advantage.

Ryan Seager came close to a superb individual goal as he turned and unlashed a left footed shot from 20 yards that went narrowly over before Djuricic and Sinclair linked up again, this time the latter’s drilled shot from a tight angle saved by Gilmartin at his near post.

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The best opening fell to Dominic Gape as he was played in by a superb ball round the outside from Jake Hesketh, but he could only fire into the side netting.

Saints paid the price for failing to get themselves a more comfortable cushion as Watford found their feet in the game and grabbed an equaliser.

The Hornets had a lively attacking trio that looked a constant menace as they continually tried to spin in behind the Saints defence.

They did exactly that ten minutes before half time.

It was Michael Folivi who was allowed time to pick a pass to Bernard Mensah Jnr who sprung the offside trap.

He charged into the area and produced a near post finish which Paulo Gazzaniga got a hand to but couldn’t keep it out.

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Despite that boost Watford didn’t learn their first half lesson and managed to concede a goal even more rapidly after the kick-off in the second period.

This time it took Saints just 15 seconds to get the ball in the back of the net.

Almost straight from the restart Niall Mason played a ball down the right wing to Seager whose cross was simply pushed out into the middle of the area by Gilmartin.

It was straight to Djuricic whose first finish was blocked by Jorell Johnson but whose second put Saints back in front.

The game opened up as a contest as Watford tried to push for another equaliser, creating openings at both ends.

Djuricic had the ball in the net again only for it to be ruled out for offside while Mensah Jnr headed over the bar and Gazzaniga produced a decent save from a free kick.

Saints put the result beyond doubt with eight minutes remaining as they bagged a third.

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Sinclair drove forward from inside his own half and produced a slide rule pass to Hesketh.

The midfielder unselfishly opted to square a pass rather than shoot himself which took Gilmartin out of the game and allowed Josh Sims the simplest of finishes into an empty net from 12 yards out.

Watford did bag a consolation deep into stoppage time as 16-year-old Folivi added to his 30 plus goal haul this season, finishing into the far corner with virtually the last kick of the game, but it was not enough to stop Saints progressing to the last four.

Saints: Gazzaniga, Mason, Cook, McCarthy, Wood, Gape, Flannigan (Hesketh 18), Seager, Sinclair, Djuricic (Little 68), Gallagher (Sims 77).

Watford: Gilmartin, Young (Ammann 67), Johnson, Savic, Doherty, O'Nien, Byers, Lewis, Folivi, Martin, Mensah.