Both sides came into this match losing their last games, as Watford were shocked at home to Queens Park Rangers, and Coventry City lost at home to Nottingham Forest 2-1 after going a goal ahead.

The Sky Blues have provided good 'home' form this season, although they are currently still ground-sharing with Birmingham City at St Andrews. 

Watford came into the game with terrible away form compared to their home, as they sit 15th in the away table, taking three wins out of 13 matches. 

The last match out between these two at Vicarage Road was an exhilarating watch. With five goals in the second half, Watford took an early lead, as Coventry then reversed it by taking a 2-1 lead, but the Hornets came back and won the game 3-2 due to late Ismaïla Sarr penalty.

Coventry's best chances came on the set-pieces where they looked most dangerous. Dominic Hyam and Max Biamou came up with the best chances. 

João Pedro and Troy Deeney could've stole it late for the hornets, but the bar denied Deeney from stealing the three points.

Story of the match

Coventry were the side to get the attacking elements of the game started in this one, as the first chance came for forward Biamou. A ball sent over the top from Sam McCallum, Watford defender William Troost-Ekong was shrugged off by Biamou, but his shot was dragged wide.

Hyam nearly gifted Watford forward Andre Gray with a goal, but Gray had to try the spectacular to pull it off. He caught Coventry goalkeeper Marko Marosi slighly off his line, Gray goes for the cheeky chip on the edge of the area, Marosi tipped the ball over as a precaution.

A trip back to when these sides faced each other in November, Gustavo Hamer scored an extraordinary long-range header outside the area, and today the ball landed to him just inside the 18-yard box. His free header didn't have the power it did last time out, as the ball landed straight into the palms of Daniel Bachmann.

The best chance of the first half fell to Sky Blues defender Hyam. A set piece whipped in from Hamer was flicked on by Hornets defender Adam Masina, the ball fell perfectly to Hyam a few yards out, he can't quite get the connection as the ball flew wide, and the Sky Blues should've been ahead.

Watford were struggling, Deeney and Gray couldn't get into the game and the Hornets weren't creating chances. This resorts to players taking shots from long-distance, and right-back Jeremy Ngakia did just that. He shimmied onto his left from around 30 yards, and drilled the ball at goal, his attempt was inches over the upright.

A fantastic chance came for Biamou, a dangerous cross whipped in from Julien Da Costa was guided straight to the head of Biamou as he heads into the ground instead of at goal. A gaping chance went again for Coventry as they failed to take advantage in the first half.

Moments into the second half, Watford knew they had to get into gear, and with a minute gone, they had their best chance of the game so far. Deeney rolled the ball towards the penalty spot, where Sarr and Gray both attacked it, Gray's effort was tame and held by Marosi.

Good interchanging between Callum O'Hare and Hamer was one of Coventry's best chances of getting a goal today, as the two linked up, Hamer drove through into the area, but again an effort straight at Bachmann.

It was the same old story for the Sky Blues today as again, a glorious chance from a set-piece as Hyam popped up above all the Watford defence, again Hyam heads straight into the hands of Bachmann. The Watford goalkeeper couldn't of been happier with how the shots were coming at him.

Inside the last ten minutes, Sarr could’ve stole the game for the Hornets. He was found inside the area from Masina, he brought the ball down with his chest, potentially his arm, but he dragged his effort wide of the post, which summed up his extremely off day.

Moments later, Watford were seriously inches from stealing it. Substitute Pedro had a glorious chance palmed away by Marosi, Watford continued to attack, whipped the ball back in as Deeney leaped in the air, his header flew towards the top corner and tipped the edge of the bar, Sarr couldn’t latch onto the rebound and Marosi gathered the ball.

Watford do move into fourth for now, but can back down to fifth if Reading win or draw at Stoke City.

Coventry move up one place to 17th, but could fall as low as 21st, one place above the relegation spots if results don't go there way in the 3pm kick-offs.

Takeaways

Coventry missed chances are denying them three points...

The Sky Blues had some great chances to the win today, but their efforts on goal didn't have enough quality. Bachmann was gifted with easy saves, and wasn't tested enough.

It's safe to say Coventry will be desperate to get forward's Tyler Walker and Matt Godden back from injuries, so they can start getting wins on the board, as if they keep dropping points, their going to be dragged into the dog fight at the bottom.

Watford's poor away from continues...

The Hornets are really struggling away from Vicarage road this season. Their three away wins have come at Stoke, Birmingham and Derby County, but that's their seventh draw out of 14 away games.

It doesn't help when the forwards are not stepping up to the plate, as Deeney, Sarr and Gray felt non-existent at points today. If this form continues, Watford will see themselves potentially slip out of the play-offs.

Man of the match

There wasn't really a standout player today, but purely because of how dangerous the set-pieces were for Coventry the award goes to Gustavo Hamer. He tried his hardest to get the three points for the Sky Blues, but in the end it wasn't enough.

 

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