Watford 3 - 2 Coventry City

[dutchman]

Ismaïla Sarr produced another late winner as Watford emerged on top from a wild second half with Coventry City at Vicarage Road



The hosts took the lead, fell behind and drew level again within 12 minutes after the break before Callum O'Hare's handball gave Sarr the chance to seal the three points from the penalty spot six minutes from time.

It was the second winner for Sarr in the space of four days after his injury-time goal stole victory against Stoke on Wednesday, also a 3-2 scoreline.

Andre Gray gave Vladimir Ivić's side the lead shortly into the second half with his first goal for almost exactly a year, only for Gustavo Hamer to equalise for Coventry with a header from 25 yards out.

The Sky Blues then went ahead a minute later as a long ball was flicked on to Tyler Walker to thrash home his first league goal of the season.

Their advantage only lasted two minutes before James Garner's corner was headed in by centre-back William Troost-Ekong for his first goal since joining Watford from Udinese in September.

But Sarr's successful penalty, his third goal of the campaign, then secured the points to keep Watford second in the Championship with Coventry 21st.

It was their seventh defeat of the season and they remain only a point above the drop zone but had hope of an impressive win after producing such a dramatic turnaround.

Their equaliser came via an extraordinary long-range header as the home side failed to clear a cross from the left and the ball bounced kindly for the onrushing Hamer to power a header that looped over Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster.

But the Sky Blues' defence again proved their undoing and they have now conceded 23 goals this season - comfortably the highest total in the division.

[dutchman]

The Sky Blues went agonisingly close to earning a point at Vicarage Road



Coventry City pressed the self destruct button again to deny themselves what would have been a deserved point at fallen Premier League side Watford.

The Sky Blues fell behind to a second half Andre Gray goal but equalised through Gus Hamer before Tyler Walker gave them the lead midway through the second half in an impressive display at Vicarage Road, packed full of confidence.

That advantage, however, only lasted two minutes before William Troost-Ekong put the Hornets back on level terms before City conceded yet another late penalty to hand the home side the 3-2 win.

City started the game brightly with some confident and determined play on the ball but the home side’s class was there to see from the first whistle as £25million Ismaila Sarr’s movement and £11.5m Andre Gary’s ability in and around the box put Coventry’s defenders through their paces.

But the visitors gave a really good account of themselves in the opening 45 minutes and should really have been ahead in the 22nd when Ryan Giles broke down the left and sent in a pinpoint cross to the six-yard box where Max Biamou headed inches wide of the near post where he was put off by good defending from centre-back Craig Cathcart.

Biamou had another chance just after the half hour mark when Tyler Walker sent in a low ball across the face of goal from the right, with the Frenchman sliding in at the back post where he was denied by goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Marko Marosi was called into action for the first time minutes later when Sarr broke down the right and cut into the box to shoot, only for the City stopper to make the save at his near post.

The Hornets finished the stronger of the two sides going into the break when they enjoyed a number of corners but City stayed strong with Marosi punching clear a Tom Cleverley effort.

Coventry made a positive start to the second half, however, and went close to scoring again when Gus Hamer threaded a beautiful ball to spring Callum O’Hare free in the box with just the keeper to beat. But the midfield’s rising close range shot was pushed over the bar by Foster.

But Watford took the lead in the 54th minute in the scruffiest of manners when wing-back Ken Sema’s first touch took him past Sam McCallum, allowing him to race through into the box from the left where he sent in a square ball to a crowded six-yard area. And somehow Andre Gray managed to get a final touch after Leo Ostigard connected with it but failed to clear.

However, Hamer got City back on level terms with a brilliantly improvised header from outside the box on 62 minutes before Tyler Walker put his side ahead with a lovely angled finish two minutes later.

Sadly for the Sky Blues, that lead lasted no more than two minutes as the Hornets got back on level terms from a corner, met by the head of centre-half William Troost-Ekong who beat Ostigard to the ball to power home from close range.

City then pressed the self destruct button once again when O’Hare conceded a late penalty as he attempted to block a Sarr shot that hit his raised arm as he jumped, with referee Simon Hooper pointing straight to the spot.

The striker then stepped up to send Marosi the wrong way and secure the 3-2 victory with seven minutes to go.