WATFORD are entering the critical period of their season, one that can determine whether it is judged a success or a flop.

Sunday's victory at Coventry City was due to a few slices of luck, Coventry's indifferent finishing and Watford's determinedly-applied tactics.

The Hornets ran out two-goal winners, catching City with a couple of counter-attacks. Coventry felt robbed but Watford showed the value of passionate defending in all parts of the field.

Much will depend on the confidence gained from this success for a run of nine games with only one defeat, may enable them to defend with even greater belief next time out. If they can gain confidence from this run, they may have less need of luck in the future.

That is Luca Vialli's view. He believes the lack of confidence has had a lot to do with the indifferent results and feels that once you have chalked up a victory away from home against a team higher in the table, you then believe you can do it every time you go out there.

If that is the case, then Watford could continued to climb the table, having just inched into the top half. They have to play catch-up after falling so far behind and, with this in mind, Vialli fielded three strikers at Highfield Road on Sunday.

But Watford's season also has two further fronts on which they can excel. The Hornets are in the Worthington League Cup Quarter Final where they travel to struggling Sheffield Wednesday next week in a bid to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1979.

And on Sunday, while the Hornets were frustrating Coventry City, the FA Cup draw gave them a home tie with Arsenal, their next-door neighbours at the London Colney training ground.

With the heavy Christmas schedule coming up, Watford have a chance to change the complexion of the campaign, but they first have to take on one of the promotion contenders, Crystal Palace, in the League at Vicarage Road on Saturday. They follow that with the League Cup trip to Hillsborough.

If they were to lose the next two games, the depression would return but if they were to win them, it would set up the season.

December 14, 2001 12:00