Two very different halves of football combined to deliver a result that felt about right by the end of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road.
Both Watford and Coventry had chances to win, but the Sky Blues arguably had a stronger claim to victory than the Hornets.
However, once again, Watford found themselves in need of a character test after conceding an early goal.
As Oscar Wilde wrote in *The Importance of Being Earnest*, “To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.” It’s unclear how Wilde would have described Watford conceding within the first five minutes for the third straight league game, but the home fans had no shortage of suggestions when Ellis Simms headed in Jack Rudoni’s corner with minimal resistance.
In the build-up to the match, Tom Cleverley mentioned efforts to resolve this recurring issue, only to see his words come back to haunt him.
Rudoni’s set pieces, and overall play, posed a constant threat, while the goal highlighted the flaws of zonal marking. To be fair, Watford have improved their set-piece defending under Cleverley, but this was a soft goal to give away. Simms didn’t have to do much—he drifted into an unmarked area and nodded the ball in off the back post.
The early goal, along with Coventry’s unexpected team selection and formation, put the visitors firmly in control.
I was seated next to Coventry goalkeeping legend Steve Ogrizovic, who, along with Midlands radio commentators, spent much of the pre-match discussion trying to decipher the Sky Blues’ team sheet. If the experts struggled to figure it out, it’s no surprise Cleverley admitted he and his staff spent the time between receiving the team sheet and kick-off trying to decode Mark Robins’ plan.
Despite conceding a poor goal and Coventry’s tactical surprise, Watford should have equalized much earlier than they eventually did.
As it was he struck his shot first time and sent it wide, the sort of chance where working the goalkeeper was the least he should have managed.
Cleverley said after the game that he needs to help the Georgian increase his goal tally, and while it feels churlish to criticise a player who has been truly outstanding so far this season, he does need to add that facet to his game.
With their 1-0 lead still intact, Coventry proceeded to boss the rest of the first half while Watford looked like a team that had been given the words to one song while the visitors were actually playing the tune to something totally different.
Rudoni was popping up in pockets and getting between the lines, and Watford struggled to get close to him.
That was rectified at half-time by charging Moussa Sissoko with the job of marshalling the £5m summer signing from Huddersfield, and the Hornets skipper did that well.
The Hornets also found Coventry’s two wide forwards a problem, as it meant their own wing-backs had to drop deeper or they risked drawing one of the outside centre-backs to the flank which then created gaps in the centre.
Ryan Porteous made a brave head-first block on Saturday, as Watford adjusted to the unexpected approach Coventry brought to the game. It was a fascinating, albeit uncomfortable, process to watch as Cleverley and his team worked to decipher and counter the visitors’ tactics.
Coventry could have easily gone into half-time 3-0 up, given the clear chances they had, which might have put the game out of Watford’s reach.
A key moment came when keeper Dan Bachmann required treatment, pausing play for a couple of minutes. Bachmann often faces criticism, but his experience and game intelligence were on full display here. Unlike outfield players, goalkeepers aren’t required to leave the pitch after receiving treatment, and this stoppage gave Cleverley and his staff an opportunity to regroup and provide fresh instructions to the players.
Bachmann’s contribution was crucial, not only in this tactical pause but also with an excellent fingertip save to deny Rudoni in the dying moments.
The second half saw a complete role reversal, with Watford pushing Coventry back and creating the better opportunities. Cleverley’s decision to make a triple substitution just after the hour was bold but necessary. With the option of rotating four wing-backs, he could inject new energy into a position vital to Watford’s playing style, both strategically and physically.
Yasser Larouci has had limited appearances so far, but concerns remain about the defensive side of his game, something Sheffield United fans pointed out during his time at Bramall Lane. While it’s thrilling to see a wing-back surge forward, that must be balanced by solid defensive contributions. Many wing-backs, particularly in the Championship, excel at either attacking or defending, but often struggle with the other aspect of the role. This limitation explains why some players fall short of the top level, as their game lacks the balance needed to succeed in the Premier League.
Watford’s performance took a positive turn after Ken Sema and Festy Ebosele came on, shortly followed by an equaliser. Chakvetadze, who has been a standout this season, played a key role with a driving run and cross that allowed Tom Dele-Bashiru to finish coolly.
At that point, it seemed like Watford might secure all three points, especially when Moussa Sissoko’s powerful run found Ebosele. The Irishman’s burst of pace from a standing start was impressive, but Sissoko missed the chance, sending his shot wide.
Ebosele still needs more game time to be fully evaluated, but a worrying moment came when he failed to get goal-side of Haji Wright, whose header hit the post when he should have scored.
The game ended on a concerning note, with Chakvetadze appearing to suffer a serious injury. While it looked bleak at first, with him being stretchered off, Cleverley’s post-match update offered hope, suggesting it might have only been a back spasm. The fact that Chakvetadze was seen chatting with fans afterward was a relief.
This season, Chakvetadze has truly come into his own, especially after his move to the No.10 role in Cleverley’s system, showcasing his full potential. Opposition journalists have consistently praised him, asking, “Who’s that No.8 of yours?”
However, Watford must guard against over-reliance on him, as they did with Joao Pedro. Chakvetadze’s teammates need to provide movement and options rather than expecting him to single-handedly create chances while they wait in the box for the final ball.
Some words of praise for Francisco Sierralta too. The big Chilean defender has slipped under the radar somewhat so far this season, but again on Saturday he gave a dependable, strong performance.
Bar one air-kick late on – when Ryan Porteous came to his rescue by literally throwing his head among the flying boots – Sierralta was effective and reliable, often doing some mopping up when those around him didn’t quite get there themselves.
It was undoubtedly a point gained for Watford, who responded well to the challenges set by Coventry and reacted positively again to the concession of an early goal.
It’s that latter issue which now needs addressing, as each of the 23 other Championship clubs will pose some sort of problem – what Watford need to avoid is adding to them.
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