Watford 3-2 Coventry City: Ismaila Sarr penalty secures win for Hornets
- Published
Andre Gray's goal for Watford was his first for almost exactly a year
Ismaïla Sarr produced another late winner as Watford emerged on top from a wild second half with Coventry City at Vicarage Road.
The hosts took the lead, fell behind and drew level again within 12 minutes after the break before Callum O'Hare's handball gave Sarr the chance to seal the three points from the penalty spot six minutes from time.
It was the second winner for Sarr in the space of four days after his injury-time goal stole victory against Stoke on Wednesday, also a 3-2 scoreline.
Andre Gray gave Vladimir Ivić's side the lead shortly into the second half with his first goal for almost exactly a year, only for Gustavo Hamer to equalise for Coventry with a header from 25 yards out.
The Sky Blues then went ahead a minute later as a long ball was flicked on to Tyler Walker to thrash home his first league goal of the season.
Their advantage only lasted two minutes before James Garner's corner was headed in by centre-back William Troost-Ekong for his first goal since joining Watford from Udinese in September.
But Sarr's successful penalty, his third goal of the campaign, then secured the points to keep Watford second in the Championship with Coventry 21st.
It was their seventh defeat of the season and they remain only a point above the drop zone but had hope of an impressive win after producing such a dramatic turnaround.
Their equaliser came via an extraordinary long-range header as the home side failed to clear a cross from the left and the ball bounced kindly for the onrushing Hamer to power a header that looped over Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster.
But the Sky Blues' defence again proved their undoing and they have now conceded 23 goals this season - comfortably the highest total in the division.
Coventry City manager Mark Robins told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire:
"It's been a harsh week but we can't keep giving chances to teams that have better players than us.
"Right from the second goal, we concede the ball from our throw-in and they win a corner that they score from. We didn't give ourselves a chance to let them feel the pressure.
"We concede too many goals and we are soft. We've conceded two penalties to lose two games and we should never have been in a position to give them away. It really hurts."
Watford manager Vladimir Ivić told BBC Three Counties:
"I'm pleased with our performance and attitude, we pushed until the last minutes of the game and I congratulate my players for the victory because it was a very difficult game.
"We have experienced players compared to their team but we cannot concede two goals and we need to fix this because it's a problem.
"We have to improve our teamwork, we have to improve our transition from defence to attack and improve the details in our play."