One of the referees in charge of a Watford game most frequently last season is due to be in the middle when the Hornets bid to bounce back from consecutive defeats on Saturday.

David Webb has been appointed as the referee for the trip to Coventry City, which will be the final Championship fixture Valerien Ismael’s side will play before the first international break of the season.

The Lancashire official took charge of five Watford matches in the 2022/23 – and none of them will hold particularly fond memories for the Hornets faithful.

Starting with the 1-1 draw at Birmingham City in August, Webb also officiated in the dismal 3-0 defeat at Millwall in October, the goalless draw at Bristol City the following month, the 1-1 draw at home to Rotherham United in January and finished his final Hornets fixture by sending off Daniel Bachmann in the 3-2 home defeat to Huddersfield Town in April.

Webb has refereed four Championship games so far this season, showing a total of 18 yellow cards.

Rob Smith and Andrew Dallison are due to be the assistant referees at the Coventry Building Society Arena, with Darren Drysdale the fourth official.

Last season’s beaten play-off finalists go into the game one point and three places higher in the table than the Hornets, having taken five points from their opening four matches.