Awesome Hornets blitz Sky Blues

Two days after their 3-0 mauling at Portsmouth, most Hornets' fans going to the game might have feared the worst, particularly as Gary McAllister's side had a comparable record to Pompey, and had conceded only two goals in their opening four games.

Instead, the home faithful were treated to a memorable display of inventive attacking play, as sorry Coventry were comprehensively overcome by the home side in all departments, with strikers Tommy Smith and Danny Webber particularly impressive as their superb pace and movement left City's cumbersome centre halves Calum Davenport and Steve Walsh totally bewildered for most of the game.

Stephen Glass got the ball rolling after just four minutes, and then Smith who had previously missed two excellent chances finally ended his personal goal drought, stretching back to January.

Webber struck a delightful third before the interval, and, although the chances weren't quite so free-flowing after the interval, Allan Nielsen and Paul Robinson got their names on the scoresheet before Gary McSheffrey and John Eustace pulled back late consolations.

Following the defeat at Pompey, Watford boss Ray Lewington chose to make only one change to the starting XI; Glass coming in for Jamie Hand, who dropped out of the 16, while Anthony McNamee returned to the bench.

Although Coventry striker Lee Hughes is reported to be on his way back to West Bromwich Albion, he kept his place in the team, but former Leicester City stalwart Walsh replaced Muhamed Konjic in the back four.

Like at Portsmouth, another minute's silence was impeccably observered in memory of murdered schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman prior to kick-off.

The first meaningful action involved the referee, booking City skipper John Eustace for a foul on Robinson after two minutes, then, shortly after, Webber had Watford's first attempt of the afternoon, firing over from 25 yards.

But the home side stunned the visitors with a lovely goal after only four minutes. From wide on the left, Nielsen showed excellent close control to cross low into the area where a defender slipped. Webber shielded the ball, and then turned it across to Glass, who calmly side-footed the ball back across keeper Morten Hyldgaard to score from around ten yards.

David Thompson fired wide from 25 yards as Coventry sought an instant reply, but the home side went close again on ten minutes when Neal Ardley clipped the ball down the right channel for Smith to race onto, but he lofted the ball wide of the far post.

Smith had an even better chance seven minutes later when an incisive Glass through ball sent him clear in the area, but his second touch was terrible as he closed in on goal and the opportunity was wasted.

Watford continued to cause the Coventry defence problems, with an Ardley cross picking out Webber, but, as he shaped to shoot, Davenport managed to clear behind.

Smith's rotten run in front of goal continued after 22 minutes when a perfectly weighted Marcus Gayle pass put him in again, but the 22-year-old rolled his shot inches wide of the far post.

However, Coventry came close to equalising after 26 minutes. Neil Cox fouled Jay Bothroyd near the edge of the area, and, after Gayle was booked for dissent, the referee moved the free-kick forward ten yards. McAllister's attempt cleared the wall, but Cox was perfectly positioned to head off the line.

Alec Chamberlain had to push a long distance Thompson effort around the post, but Watford were soon attacking again, with a smartly taken quick throw from Nielsen picking out the unmarked Smith on the right side of the area, and he clipped the ball to the far post where Robinson's downward header was kept out by Hyldgaard's legs.

But the moment most Watford fans have been waiting for finally arrived on 34 minutes when Smith ended his personal goal drought, stretching back to January. Webber won the ball on halfway, skipped past his man and then advanced before playing the perfect pass through to Smith, who kept his calm to clip the ball over Hyldgaard.

Smith nearly returned the compliment shortly after, but his pass was just too far ahead of the on-loan Manchester United striker.

But Watford were in dream land just five minutes later when they went 3-0 up with another masjestic goal. Micah Hyde played the ball into Smith, who laid it off to Glass, and he, in turn, found Webber. With his back to goal, the striker produced a wonderful turn before curling an exceptional right-footed shot into the far corner.

Realising the need for urgent action, City player-manager McAllister made a double change at half-time, bringing on Craig Pead and McSheffrey for Youssef Safri and Bothroyd, and switched to a 3-4-3 formation.

Chamberlain was forced to rush from his line to prevent McSheffrey getting on the end of a through ball after 48 minutes, and then a poor Robinson back pass nearly played his defence into serious trouble.

An unmarked Walsh headed a McAllister free-kick wide of the far post as Coventry continued to push forward at the start of the second-half, but then Nielsen mis-hit a shot from a Smith cross after being presented with a promising opportunity.

Coventry had a penalty appeal turned down after 53 minutes when Thompson's driven centre struck Gayle on the arm, but Hyde went close six minutes later when he steered a shot just wide of the far post after being set up by Robinson.

But the Coventry defence was ripped apart again in the 63rd minute. A well-weighted Nielsen pass sent Robinson clear down the left. His cross was behind Webber, but it fell ideally for Nielsen, who took one touch before firing past Hyldgaard to make it 4-0.

Glass nearly added a sensational fifth soon after with a blistering 25-yard half-volley which Hyldgaard plucked out of the air after more good build-up play.

Number five duly arrived on 70 minutes when Hyde played the ball into Robinson, who flicked it onto to Smith, and he laid the ball back into the path of Robinson, who blasted a low cross-shot into the far corner.

Thompson did attempt to chip Chamberlain with 13 minutes remaining, and the former Liverpool player then brought an even better save out of the Hornets' keeper with a low shot, but Watford were soon back at the other end with Robinson firing straight at Hyldgaard after a promising break had partially broken down.

Coventry did manage to pull one back with five minutes remaining when McSheffrey got on the end of a Hughes cross, after Chamberlain had done well to save McSheffrey's initial attempt.

By now Watford had switched off, and the scoreline was given an unfair reflection deep into injury time when Eustace latched on to a Thompson through ball, and side-stepped Chamberlain before sliding the ball home, but these late goals could not take the gloss of a superb Hornets' performance.

Watford: Chamberlain; Cox, Dyche, Gayle; Ardley, Nielsen, Hyde, Glass, Robinson; Smith, Webber. Substitutes: Vernazza, McNamee, Doyley, Foley and Lee not used.

Coventry: Hyldgaard; Shaw, Davenport, Walsh, Gordon; Thompson, Safri, McAllister, Eustace; Bothroyd, Hughes. Substitutes: Pead and McSheffrey for Safri and Bothroyd after 45 minutes; Quinn for Walsh after 69 minutes; Chippo and Montgomery not used.

Bookings: Eustace for foul on Robinson after two minutes; Gayle for dissent after 26 minutes.

Attendance: 11,136.

Referee: M Ryan (Preston).

August 26, 2002 15:30