Gyokeres seals brilliant win amid defensive masterclassA second half Viktor Gyokeres goal gave Coventry City a sensational third consecutive away victory against fallen Premier League side Watford.
The Sky Blues defended brilliantly against the Hornets who battered City’s goal for the final five minutes and another five nervous minutes of stoppage time, as the visitors held out for an eighth clean sheet from their last 11 games.
Both goalkeepers pulled off one decent save apiece in the first half when the home side had a goal disallowed in a lively affair at Vicarage Road.
Watford dominated the early possession and constantly looked to exploit the left flank where the lively Ismaila Sarr was a constant threat with his pace, while the Sky Blues played largely on the counter attack. The visitors got their first chance when Kasey Palmer played a lovely ball between two defenders to send Gyokeres through on goal, only for the striker to fire wide at the near post.
Jack Burroughs then played a lovely ball down the left for Gyokeres to run onto in space, with the big Swede turning his marker inside out before unleashing an angle shot which goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann denied with a flying save.
Minutes later the Hornets countered themselves with Sarr racing through on the left and squaring to Keinan Davis to tap home, only for the goal to be disallowed for off-side. Ben Wilson then came to the rescue in the 26th minute when Ken Sema hit an inch perfect free-kick over the wall and his effort looked to be heading for the bottom corner until the keeper dived full stretch to his right to push it round the post.
Gyokeres was played through again, this time by Palmer, and he cut inside William Troost-Ekong where his shot was deflected wide at the last second by the covering Sierralta.
Although the home side had 70 per cent of the possession in the opening 45 minutes, City had enjoyed seven shots, albeit only one on target, compared to Watford who had four attempts and one on target.
Gus Hamer put a shot wide at the start of the second half, as did Sema from a clear goal scoring position after being set up by Sarr. But a delightful three-man move in the 51st minute gave City the lead. Palmer sent Jamie Allen free down the right and the midfielder hit a first time pass in behind the Watford defence where Gyokeres raced in to connect and beat the keeper.
The Hornets went agonisingly close to getting back on level terms just past the hour when Kamara sent the ball into the six-yard box where Sarr somehow lifted it over the bar.
City continued to defend their fragile lead but did so brilliantly and saw out a memorable victory at Vicarage Road.
ATTENDANCE: 20,164 (1,940 away)