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John-Joe O'Toole in aerial action. Picture: Jane Parr

It wasn't pretty and was certainly nervy but Watford are now only two points behind leaders Bristol City - and with a game in hand - after edging out Coventry City 2-1 at Vicarage Road this afternoon (Saturday).

It looked the Hornets would have to settle for yet another draw after Leon Best cancelled out Nathan Ellington's early opener, but Player of the Season favourite Tommy Smith changed all that with ten minutes remaining to end his side's eight-game hunt for three points and secure only a third home league victory since mid-October.

Following the 3-0 defeat at Hull City Aidy Boothroyd chose to make two changes. Lloyd Doyley was restored to the starting line-up after a ten-game absence at the expense of Jay DeMerit, while, more predictably, John-Joe O'Toole came back into the midfield in place of Al Bangura. After successfully winning the appeal against his red card at the KC Stadium, Steve Kabba again partnered the mis-firing Nathan Ellington in attack.

Like his counterpart, Coventry boss Chris Coleman also made two changes, with Isaac Osbourne and Best coming in for Jay Tabb and Michael Mifsud.

Following a torrential downpour in the build-up to the game, there were traces of surface water on the pitch as kick-off approached, but the match got off to an even start.

The first real moment of incident came in the fifth minute when Best caught Richard Lee late, but referee Darren Deadman calmly dealt with the foul and gave no more than the free-kick to Watford.

But two minutes later, the home side were in front with the first shot of the game. Smith won a second ball towards the right side of the Coventry area and played it inside to Ellington, who, after one touch, took aim and fired a left-footed daisy-cutter inside Kasper Schmeichel's near post from 20 yards to score his first goal in almost two months.

Boosted by the early breakthrough, the Hornets then forced two corners in quick succession and had their next opportunity in the 16th minute when Lee Williamson rolled a free-kick into Smith's feet on the edge of the area, and the winger checked back out on to his left foot before striking a rising shot over the top.

Watford were growing in confidence and nearly scored a terrific second four minutes later when O'Toole won a challenge near the edge of the Sky Blues' area and unleashed a right-footed thunderbolt which Schmeichel did well to parry back out. Next, Smith stood up an excellent cross from the right which Scott Dann did well to head clear from virtually beneath his own crossbar, as Kabba prepared to pounce.

However, the visitors had a decent opening in the 27th minute when a well-flighted free-kick from the left by Stephen Hughes was flicked narrowly past Richard Lee's right-hand post by Robbie Simpson. Then Osbourne tried his luck from 25 yards with a right-footed effort that also went the wrong side of the same upright from City's perspective.

The temporary shift in momentum continued on the half-hour when a Simpson pass released Best, who checked back inside Doyley before hitting a low 20-yard drive which Lee was right behind.

But the Hornets really should have gone two up after 34 minutes. Following a deep Mat Sadler free-kick from the left, Williamson worked a nice give-and-go and got to the by-line before cutting the ball back, but Smith, who was all alone and had time to pick his spot, blasted wide of Schmeichel's right-hand post.

Ellington, as has unfortunately become customary, then fired a free-kick into the wall before some very neat footwork by Kabba on the left side of the area led to a dangerous cross and Watford's third, and then, fourth corner of the afternoon.

Lee safely gathered a Best cross-shot just before half-time, but the Hornets went into the interval with their one-goal lead intact.

Coleman decided to use the interval to make a change - and it was a positive one - with Mifsud coming on for Richard Duffy. The substitute took up a place on the right side of midfield, with Osbourne moving to right-back.

Watford started the second-half as they had spent much of the opening period, struggling to retain possession, and the game became increasingly scrappy with the ball spending plenty of time in the air.

However, Jobi McAnuff did show some composure in the 56th minute when he twisted and turned 25 yards out before striking a low right-foot shot which didn't unduly touble Schmeichel.

But three minutes later Coventry were right back in it. Michael Doyle spread play out to Julian Gray on the left and he swung over an excellent deep cross which Best rose well to meet and head back across goal and into the bottom right-hand corner to make it 1-1.

With the home faithful becoming agitated again and Boothroyd showing no apparent willingness to change things around, Coleman did just that after 72 minutes by replacing Simpson with Zavon Hines.

Watford though, did try to push forward but were increasingly lacking the composure and quality until, with Collins John preparing to entering the fray with ten minutes left, Smith made City pay for a mistake at the back.

A long Lee clearance was flicked on by Ellington and Dann misjudged the bounce and could only help it into the path of Smith, who calmly controlled the ball before lifting it over the onrushing Schmeichel to make it 2-1.

The impressive Dan Shittu was then booked for a foul on Daniel Fox, before Boothroyd decided against bringing John on and instead replaced McAnuff and Ellington with Jordan Stewart and Adrian Mariappa. And, soon after, DeMerit came on for Doyley.

But Watford saw out the closing stages without any great alarm to get them right back into the thick of the hunt for automatic promotion.

To rate the performances of the players against Coventry, click here

Watford: Lee; Doyley (DeMerit, 87), Bromby, Shittu, Sadler; Smith, O'Toole, Williamson, McAnuff (Stewart, 83); Kabba, Ellington (Mariappa, 83). Not used: John and Poom.

Coventry City: Schmeichel; Duffy (Mifsud, 46), Ward, Dann, Fox; Osbourne, Doyle, Hughes, Gray (Thornton, 89); Best, Simpson (Hines, 72). Not used: Hall and Marshall.

Bookings: Shittu for a foul on Fox after 82 mins.

Attendance: 17,188.

Referee: Darren Deadman.

5:00pm Saturday 5th April 2008

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