Watford 1-2 Coventry City: Haji Wright double seals Sky Blues victory

Two goals from Haji Wright maintained Coventry City’s Championship play-off hopes as they came from behind to beat Watford at Vicarage Road.

USA forward Wright scored a penalty just before half-time to level after Josh Eccles was fouled, before adding another 18 minutes from time.

The pressure on Watford boss Valerien Ismael increases with Watford suffering a seventh defeat in nine games.

The Hornets started with real purpose, with Giorgi Chakvetadze a real threat and his early cross narrowly evaded Yaser Asprilla, before he drove forward and fed Ismael Kone, but the opportunity went begging.

Porteous opened the scoring on 20 minutes when his looping header from Ryan Andrews’ long throw gave Coventry goalkeeper Bradley Collins no chance.

But Coventry, and Wright in particular, were a threat and on the half-hour mark the striker bamboozled the Watford defence and tested Bachmann, who held on to the shot.

Five minutes from the break, parity was restored from the spot as Wright converted emphatically after Bachmann brought Eccles down in the area.

The keeper denied Wright early in the second half before Kone curled an effort wide at the other end just moments later.

It was Coventry, though, who had the edge up front as Wright added his second with a superb finish from the edge of the area, although Bachmann could perhaps have done better as the ball bobbled past him.

Watford’s desperate efforts to find an equaliser did not pay off as Porteous’ backheel after pinball in the box was cleared and Matheus Martins sent an acrobatic effort wide.

The Sky Blues held on and are just a point and two places outside the top six, while Watford are 13th, 13 points adrift of the play-off spots and still only seven above the relegation zone.

Watford head coach Valerien Ismael told BBC Three Counties Radio:

“Finally, we started strong. We should score a second goal and from nowhere they got the penalty.

“We pushed but they had one shot on target in the second half. It goes in and you’re running after the result. It is a real pity, but there was a good dynamic.

“Our fans are always good with us. If they are behind us we are doing the right thing. We didn’t see anything from Coventry today, it was a day like that where everything runs against you.

“We kept pushing and were dangerous; we thought too much, we can compete, we know that and showed that most of the game.”

Coventry manager Mark Robins told BBC CWR:

“We didn’t start brilliantly and they were on the front foot. You can still see, if you pressure them, they’ll give you chances. Thankfully we dealt ok with their pace.

“Second half we had a bit more. From that control we had, we got the penalty. The best passage of play we had all game ended up with Haji’s second goal and the winner.

“It is a brilliant, really valuable three points that keep us ticking along. To keep a clean sheet in the second half was just what we wanted.”