Team
Westwood,Fox,Hall,Turner,Ward,Gunnarsson,Tabb,Eastwood,Simpson,Morrison,Doyle (Best 75) SNU Marshall,Walker,Clarke,Wynter
Watford
Loach, Sadler (Brocutt 81),Bromby, Priskin, Doyley,Williamson (McAnuff 86), Harley (Robinson 59), Smith,Mariappa, O'Toole,Henderson SNU De Merit,Hoskins
HT WFC 0-0 CCFC FT WFC 2-1 CCFC Att 14,075
Ref Jon Moss Booked Priskin
Goal Tommy Smith (pen 62), Clinton Morrison (66), John Joe O'Toole (72)
Man Of The Match - Keiren Westwood and Aron Gunnarsson shared the votes in our car
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STARTING LINE UP
Chris Coleman was without the injured Michael Mifsud and replaced him with Michael Doyle. Cov kid & Youth teamer Adam Walker went on the bench ahead of Sean Fraser.
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Coventry City went down to their usual defeat at a rain soaked Vicarage Road with a 2-1 loss this afternoon.
We made the ninety minute journey in pouring rain, that first started in Cov around 7pm last night, and were thankful that a second pitch inspection at 1.30pm was given the go ahead.
On arrival, the pitch had puddles on the left and right flanks at the other end to where there was a good turn out of 929 City supporters.
Rumours spread of a 3pm inspection which ended up with both managers agreeing that the game should start and be played to a finish as did the referee who had a good game in difficult decisions.
Memories of the game last December at Sheffield Wednesday came flooding back as both sides tried to dig the ball out of the swimming pool sides.
Chris Coleman's side started well with Ben Turner having a fifth header from a Gunnarsson throw pushed over for a corner by Hornets keeper Scott Loach.
Two minutes later, Danny Fox who has been attracting interest from Premiership clubs found Simpson ten yards out but his header went wide.
In the 11th minute, Keiren Westwood made the first of a string of saves when he got down to prevent Lloyd Doyley.
Loach denied Morrison's header but in the 29th minute, a bad clearance saw Tommy Smith try to chip Keiren Westwood. The keeper was well out of his goal but got back to push the ball over for a corner.
Westwood blocked Doyley again before stopping Priskin with a brilliant block.
With Freddie Eastwood non existent, City had to use the flanks and Simpson,Gunnarrson and Tabb were all keen to take that role on.
A handball by Bromby gave City a 34th minute free kick. Fox sent it in. Elliott Ward got a head to it but Williamson a yard off the line, hacked clear for a corner.
Aron Gunnarsson was often in the wars in the first half as Brendan Roger's side attempted to stop him by any means.
Three minutes before the break, City conceded a corner and it was only another good save from Westwood that kept the scores level at the break.
When the sides came out for the second half, we knew that this game was going to be played to a finish as the conditions had not deteriorated despite the rain continuing.
Six minutes in and Elliott Ward made a brilliant tackle on Priskin. This prompted the noisy City support who had more cameras on them than a Mastermind contestant, to starting singing the name of the West Brom target.
This kept going for at least five minutes and must have gone to his head as on the hour mark, Ward brought Priskin down from behind and Watford were awarded a penalty.
Tommy Smith sent the ball to Westwood's right to put the Hornets ahead but five minutes later, City were level.
The goal came from a corner. Fox's flag kick found Jay Tabb twelve yards out. The midfielder who is leaving everyone guessing as to his Sky Blue future, drove a shot which got past Loach and there was Clinton Morrison to get a 66th miute touch and claim the goal.
There were scenes of euphoria in the away end which had the police cameras whirring away. But unfortunately, our joy was to be shortlived and the chants by some of "Call It Off" returned.
The ball came from the Watford midfield. Elliott Ward should have done better but missed with a clearance and John Joe O'Toole was able to poke the ball past Westwood.
Leon Best came on for Michael Doyle but despite a late shot by Tabb being saved, City had thrown away a chance of a second successive victory and our run of poor form at the three sided Vicarage Road continued.