Victor Torp (left) now has four league goals in the 2024/25 season
Two goals from Victor Torp were enough for Coventry to see off Watford and deny a spirited comeback for the Hornets.
In a dominant first half, the hosts broke the deadlock when Torp tapped home Jack Rudoni's cross from close range.
The Dane then extended Coventry's lead in the second half with a scorching free-kick from the edge of the D but Watford responded less than 10 minutes to go through Liam Kitching's own goal.
Despite insistent pressure from the Hornets to try find an equaliser, the Sky Blues held on to win all three points and move up to 12th whilst Watford drop down to ninth, increasing the uncertainty around head coach Tom Cleverley's position.
The managerial situation at Watford is uncertain at the best of times and after reports in Spain of Cleverley being dismissed and replaced by Jose Rojo Martin, owner Gino Pozzo reaffirmed his support, external on Saturday morning.
The first-half performance from Cleverley's side though wouldn't have minimised any pressure as the visitors struggled to dominate possession in the opening exchanges.
Sky Blues frontman Brandon Thomas-Asante had two good chances via Torp through-balls within the first 10 minutes, the first hitting the side netting with the other pushed out by Jonathan Bond.
Torp, however, made sure to take his chance when Rudoni delivered his eighth assist of the season, driving the ball down the right flank before fizzing in a low cross for the Dane to slot home after 32 minutes.
Despite Watford upping their intensity at the beginning of the second half, Edo Kayembe's foul on Coventry substitute Tatsuhiro Sakamoto just outside the box gave Torp a golden platform to score again.
It proved to be at the second time of asking after his first free-kick was deemed to be blocked in the wall by Moussa Sissoko's hand.
It was one of Torp's finest goals in a Coventry shirt as he guided the subsequent dead ball over the wall with pinpoint accuracy into the top left corner to double the home side's lead.
With only 15 minutes to go, Watford rose to the occasion and responded at the with Sissoko's strike from the centre of the box deflecting off Sky Blues centre-half Kitching to pull one back.
Giorgi Chakvetadze then had home hearts in mouths at the CBS Arena as Coventry keeper Oliver Dovin was forced down to his left to deny the Georgian international at the near post.
But Frank Lampard's side rode out Watford's spirited fightback to secure their 10th win of the season.
Lampard post Watford victory
'A positive feeling around the place' - Lampard
Coventry City manager Frank Lampard told BBC Radio CWR:
"It's a really good week. A tough game as always and really pleased with the players, a great effort for the week.
"It gives us a really positive feeling around the place. The fans were amazing today at the end of the game and fully deserved I think.
"It was a tough match against a good team. They're in a tough moment in a way but they've got lots of good individuals, a powerful team at times and I thought we deserved it.
"It's not easy to break down a back five so, there are a lot of things sometimes that block you but we were really good with our movement, our passing, things we wanted to do we did."
Watford manager Tom Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"The disappointing thing is we always seem to be losing games with a few regrets.
"If we could play the first halves like the second halves then I think we'd be alright so it's an issue we're still trying to get to the bottom of.
"I think it is more mindset and physical maybe. Why are they not fresh enough at the start of games?"
