Watford

2

Cleverley 21 Hoskins 37

Coventry

3

Clingan 14 Best 67,84
(HT 2 - 1)
Kickoff: 19:45
Att: 13034
Best caps fine Sky Blues fightback
Leon Best grabbed an 84th-minute winner to seal a remarkable 3-2 Championship victory for Coventry and end Watford's seven-match unbeaten run.
 
Best: Capped Sky Blues fightback
Best: Capped Sky Blues fightback
 

Watford

  1 Loach
  12 Doyley
  17 Bennett
  33 Hodson ***
  2 Mariappa
  15 Harley
  7 Cowie *
  20 Cleverley
  28 Eustace
  10 Graham
  18 Hoskins **

On The Bench

  16 Lee
  34 Oshodi *** (78)
  29 Bryan
  4 Severin
  5 Lansbury * (57)
  19 Henderson ** (70)
  31 Sordell

Coventry

  1 Westwood
  12 van Aanholt
  18 Cork
  2 Wright
  5 Ward
  35 Clarke *
  21 McIndoe **
  17 Gunnarsson ***
  4 Clingan
  9 Best
  11 Morrison

On The Bench

  13 Konstantopoulos
  15 Cranie * (69)
  30 Walker
  32 Cain
  16 Osbourne *** (86)
  10 Eastwood ** (72)
  36 Jeffers

The Hornets were yet to taste defeat at Vicarage Road heading into the encounter and held the second tier's longest undefeated sequence.

However that was all brought to an end by a Sky Blues side who, in contrast, had previously recorded just two league victories on the road in 2009.

Sammy Clingan opened the scoring for the visitors with a drilled effort in the 14th minute but Watford were ahead at the interval courtesy of Tom Cleverley and Will Hoskins.

The home side wasted a host of good chances throughout and they were made to pay as Best twice found the net in the final 23 minutes to grab his fourth and fifth goals in his last five games

The hosts applied pressure straight from the off and Hornets striker Hoskins somehow diverted the ball over the crossbar from four yards after just 51 seconds.

The frantic start set the scene for an open encounter and it was no surprise when the breakthrough came with just 14 minutes on the clock.

Summer signing Clingan grabbed his second impressive goal of the season after his stunning free-kick at Preston, finding the bottom corner through a crowd of bodies from around 25 yards out.

But the lead lasted just seven minutes before Cleverley capitalised on some hesitant defending to level for Watford with a low half-volley from inside the penalty area after Don Cowie's cross was flicked on by Danny Graham.

Keiren Westwood did well to deny Graham just minutes later after a short back pass from Elliott Ward as Coventry's defence failed to settle.

The hosts started to dominate as the first half wore on, showing more steel and quality as the visitors struggled to get the grips with the clash.

And Malky Mackay's side gained the upper hand eight minutes before the interval, breaking upfield q uickly after a Coventry attack was closed down.

The Sky Blues defence was again unconvincing as they looked to deal with the counter and it was left for Hoskins to drill home after the ball broke in his direction.

Watford were in complete control as the first half drew to a close, handing Coventry a severe lesson as Westwood kept the visitors in the game with a couple of fine saves.

In similar fashion to the first half, the Hornets wasted a great chance to find the net within seconds of the restart as Graham somehow blazed over from 12 yards when in acres of space.

The home side would surely have been out of sight had they made it 3-1 but, instead, the Sky Blues enjoyed a period of dominance as the match wore on.

And they were rewarded in the 67th minute when Leon Best headed home after Ward did well to head Clingan's deep corner back across goal.

Both keepers were called into action as the game approached the final 15 minutes but it was Best who poked home at the back post six minutes from time.

Watford pressed in the final stages and some superb goalkeeping by Westwood, along with some good fortune, ensured Coventry secured their first victory over Watford in six attempts.

Today's other The Coca-Cola Football League Championship matches.
Crystal Palace 0 - 0 Sheff Wed Report
      Att: 12476
Cardiff 6 - 1 Derby Report
Whittingham 10 Chopra 36,57,62,75 Burke 63   Hulse 47 Att: 18670
Peterborough 1 - 2 Plymouth Report
Mackail-Smith 86   Mackie 63 Fallon 69 Att: 7114
Doncaster 0 - 0 Swansea Report
      Att: 8833
Sheff Utd 3 - 3 Ipswich Report
Henderson 77,9 Morgan 90   Walters 24 Leadbitter 34 McAuley 70 Att: 28366
Preston 1 - 2 Reading Report
Parkin 85(pen)   Church 34 Kebe 43 Att: 10987
Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Leicester Report
    Dyer 83 Att: 18577
Barnsley 3 - 1 West Brom Report
Hammill 14 Hume 32(pen) Martis 80(og)   Brunt 88 Att: 12191
Bristol City 2 - 0 Blackpool Report
Maynard 28 Haynes 57     Att: 13673



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