It was the classic game of two halves as Watford overcame another slow start to maintain their unbeaten home record in a 1-1 draw with Coventry.

For the third match in succession, the Hornets conceded early on and generally struggled to come to terms with a Coventry side who had changed shape and personnel.

The visitors could have gone in at the break with a much bigger lead but, equally, Watford created enough to have been level or even ahead despite never getting control of proceedings.

After the break Watford were a different proposition and deserved to get back on level terms.

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

The big negative for Watford was seeing Giorgi Chakvetadze stretchered off midway through the second half.

Ryan Porteous was restored to the starting line-up for the first time in the league since the win at Millwall on the opening day of the season.

Vakoun Bayo kept his place in the team, with on-loan striker Daniel Jebbison among the subs.

Also on the bench was recent midfield signing Pierre Dwomoh, as well as Festy Ebosele, Rocco Vata and Mamadou Doumbia. Kwadwo Baah’s muscle problem meant he didn’t make it.

Here’s how the action unfolded:

3 – Watford 0 Coventry 1 (Simms)

Simms is afforded a totally free header from a corner and nods the ball home via the inside of the post.

6 - Torp bursts through the centre, gets to the edge of the box but then sends a shot straight at Bachmann.

10 - Glorious chance goes begging. Andrews runs onto Sissoko's pass and cuts the ball back. It evades Bayo but is perfect for Chakvetadze, who is unmarked but shoots wide.

22 - Van Ewijk digs out a cross and the sliding Mason-Clark pokes it goalwards, where Bachmann blocks and then gathers the loose ball.

26 - Very close.... Rudoni crosses from the right and Mason-Clark stretches to meet it beyond the back post sending the ball lopping onto the roof of the net.

28 - Sissoko sends Andrews away down the right and continues his run to meet 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 glances it wide.

34 - Chakvetadze cross from near the by-line, Bayo got up well but his downward header was held by Dovin.

40 - Close... Larouci crosses from the left by-line and Bayo gets ahead of his marker but heads just wide of the near post.

Hal-time – Watford 0 Coventry 1

50 - Kayembe crosses, Bayo heads down but there is nobody there to get on the end of it. Coventry don't clear well, and when the ball comes back into the box Kayembe hooks a volley over.

51 - Chakvetadze hits a deep, 35-yard free kick and the diving Pollock heads goalwards, where Dovin turns the ball round the post.

52 - Kayembe drives across the pitch and then plays in Larouci, whose shot is pushed over the top by Dovin.

54 - Coventry break and Simms gets into the box but the diving Pollock deflects his shot over the bar.

58 - Sissoko turns just outside the box, holds off two challenges and then lets fly, with Dovin tipping over the bar.

66 – Watford 1 (Dele-Bashiru) Coventry 1

Chakvetadze drove to the by-line on the left and his low cross ran perfectly for the unmarked Dele-Bashiru to sweep home.

70 - Ebosele drove to the by-line and pulled the ball back but Sissoko turned it wide of the near post.

74 - Mason-Clark sent over a teasing cross from the right and Wright seemed certain to head it home, but instead his effort came back off the upright.

86 - Pollock chipped the ball into the box, Jebbison got the deftest of touches and somehow Dovin instinctively threw an arm out to block.

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

90+6 - Thomas-Assante cuts in from the right and shoots, the ball takes a deflection and bounces wide with Bachmann wrong-footed.

90+8 - Rudoni beats Sema with a clever chop-back and then hits an angled shot that Bachmann tips round 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, Doumbia