Watford survived another poor start to retain their undefeated home record with a 1-1 draw against Coventry.

For the third meeting in a row, the Hornets conceded early on and struggled to cope with a Coventry team that had altered structure and players.

The visitors might have gone into halftime with a considerably larger advantage, but Watford generated enough chances to be level or even ahead while never taking control of the game.

After the interval, Watford were a different prospect and deserved to square the score.

Then it was anyone’s game, with opportunities at both ends to score three points.

The main negative for Watford was Giorgi Chakvetadze being stretchered off midway through the second half.

Ryan Porteous returned to the starting lineup for the first time since the season opener against Millwall.

Vakoun Bayo retained his position in the team, with on-loan attacker Daniel Jebbison among the substitutes.

Pierre Dwomoh, a new midfield addition, was also on the bench, along with Festy Ebosele, Rocco Vata, and Mamadou Doumbia. Kwadwo Baah’s muscular condition meant he did not make it.

Here is how the event unfolded.

Watford 3–0 Coventry 1 (Simms).

Simms is given a completely free header from a corner and tips the ball home via the inside of the post.

6 – Torp sprints through the middle, gets to the outside of the box, and fires a shot straight at Bachmann.

10 – A magnificent opportunity goes begging. Andrews intercepts Sissoko’s pass and cuts it back. It avoids Bayo but is ideal for Chakvetadze, who is unmarked but fires wide.

In the 22nd minute, Van Ewijk sends a cross to Mason-Clark, who slides and pokes it towards the goal. Bachmann blocks and collects the loose ball.

26 – Very close…. Rudoni crosses from the right, and Mason-Clark extends to meet it beyond the back post, putting the ball into the roof of the net.

28 – Sissoko sends Andrews down the right and continues his run, meeting the low cross with a first-time shot over the bar.

29: Van Ewijk crosses from the right, Simms heads towards the near post, and Sierralta misses wide.

34 – Chakvetadze crosses from near the byline; Bayo recovers well, but his downward header is saved by Dovin.

40 – Close… Larouci crosses from the left byline, and Bayo goes ahead of his marker but shoots just wide of the near post.

Hal-time – Watford 0 Coventry 1

50 – Kayembe crosses, Bayo heads down, but nobody is there to catch it. Coventry don’t clear properly, and when the ball returns to the area, Kayembe hooks a volley over.

51 – Chakvetadze launches a long 35-yard free kick, which Pollock heads goalwards, but Dovin turns the ball around the post.

52 – Kayembe drives across the pitch and passes to Larouci, whose shot is deflected over the bar by Dovin.

54 – Coventry break, and Simms into the area, but diving Pollock deflects his effort over the crossbar.

58 – Sissoko thinks outside the box, holds off two challenges, and finally lets go, with Dovin tipping over the bar.

66 – Watford 1 (Dele-Bashiru), Coventry 1

Chakvetadze drove to the byline on the left, and his low cross was perfectly placed for the unmarked Dele-Bashiru to score.

70 – Ebosele drove to the byline and pulled the ball back, but Sissoko sent it wide of the near post.

74 – Mason-Clark sent over an enticing cross from the right, and Wright appeared poised to head it home, but his attempt bounced against the upright.

In the 86th minute, Pollock chipped the ball into the area, Jebbison made a beautiful touch, and Dovin blocked it instantly.

90+5 – Vata crosses from the left, and Pollock is still up from a corner, but he heads right at Dovin.

90+6 – Thomas-Assante cuts in from the right and shoots, but the ball deflects and rebounds wide, catching Bachmann off guard.

90+8 – Rudoni beats Sema with a brilliant chop-back before hitting an angled shot that Bachmann tips past the post.

Full-time – Watford 1, Coventry 1.

Watford: Bachmann; Porteous, Sierralta (Morris 88), Pollock; Andrews (Ebosele 63), Sissoko, Dele-Bashiru, Larouci (Sema 63); Chakvetadze (Vata 80), Kayembe; Bayo (Jebbison 63). Subs: Bond, Inca, Dwomoh, and Doumbia.

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