By CovSid67
August 15 2010

A decent result against a side unbeaten in their last four games, and who had won six of their last seven fixtures against Coventry City, scoring twenty times*, though the first hour or so would have given manager Aidy Boothroyd cause for concern. There was certainly none of the 'determination and energy' seen during the match against Portsmouth.

(Do not read on if honesty is a problem for you....) 

To much of this display was fairly to very unacceptable, with far to many of the players selected just not in the game, and they couldn't even use the excuse they were tired as, with the exception of goal-scorer David Bell, all were given Tuesday off, as the 'reserves' lost to Morecambe! Or maybe the players actually need more match practise?

To borrow lines from always optimistic Dave Bennett (Co-commentating on Mercia), who despite the display, and even at 2-0 down, still insisted 'we could still win this game', stated: "we're not doing enough"; "no talking whatsoever"; "second best at everything .... effort, desire"; "the passing is atrocious"; "we're not doing the simple things"; "Boothroyd is apoplectic". To those that think I'm negative, hardly words to inspire, are they?

Iain Turner was drafted in from Everton after Westwood was forced to withdraw from the squad due to bereavement, but lasted a mere seventeen minutes, with youngster Michael Quirke coming on to make his debut. Quirke's job was made more difficult by a less than convincing display by Ben Turner in front of him, whose error was a factor in his name-sake in goal going off injured.

Quirke did make one quality save from Sordell, which would have boosted his confidence, while another youngster, Nathan Cameron was excellent in the centre of defence, and is so far justifying his call-up to the first team. Quirke was slightly at fault for Watford's opener, as, for the second time in two games - and to show old habits die hard - Coventry City conceded on the stroke of half-time, with Will Buckley on the mark for Watford.

With just under an hour gone, City old-boy John Eustace scored a quality goal to seemingly put this fixture out of reach of Coventry City, but once again, it was the introduction of the sometimes maligned Clive Platt that seemed to improve Coventry City's display. Gunnarsson came on at the same time as Platt, and also made a decent contribution in his half-hour on the pitch.

With a fair few Coventry supporters having decided this match was already lost and heading for the exits, a David Bell cracker gave some hope of rescuing something from a seemingly lost fixture. Minutes later, a Keogh run was ended when he was fouled in the area by Doyley, and Jutkiewicz opened his Coventry City account from the spot (With Loach guessing correctly, but beaten by the power of the shot).

Michael Doyle almost scored an unlikely winner late into the seven minutes of injury time, with Loach turning his effort over for a corner. A defeat for Watford would have been harsh, though fairly funny too.

In this new age of optimism, this will be classed as a decent result, and a battling performance - albeit only for the last ten minutes - though performances will need to improve if we're not to take a hammering at any or all of the games against Derby (h), Millwall (a), and Leicester (h). And Swansea (a). And Bristol City (a).

TEAM: (I) Turner (Quirke 17), Keogh, (B) Turner, Cameron, Cranie, Bell, Carsley, Doyle, McSheffrey (Gunnarsson 62), Eastwood (Platt 62), Jutkiewicz. SNU: McPake, Wood, Clingan, Baker.

* Statistics courtesy of Sky Sports News, so don't blame me if they're wrong.