Glass opener shatters Coventry

Watford 5 Coventry City

Undefeated before the trip to Vicarage Road and needing a single point to leave Hertfordshire top of the First Division, Coventry City were handed a harsh lesson yesterday. A regenerated Watford side dazzled the Sky Blues in demolishing them 5-2.

Watford took control of the game from the opening whistle and Stephen Glass connected with a cross from the left to put them in front. The Hornets continued to pile on the pressure with Tommy Smith narrowly missing on several occasions.

Coventry's only real chance in the first-half came from a free-kick on the edge of the area that posed no real threat to the strong Watford defence as Neil Cox headed Gary McAllister's effort clear.

Smith was awarded his hard-earned goal when he was set up by the star of the show Danny Webber, the on-loan striker from Manchester United playing an inch-perfect pass through a gap through the Coventry defence.

Webber outclassed a seemingly clueless Coventry defence, after providing precise passes for the first two goals. He continued his impressive display scoring Watford's third goal of the game with a fantastic turn and finish, leaving his marker Callum Davenport on the grass.

The half-time interval failed to provide any respite as Watford continued to pummel the Coventry defence and after several attempts on goal, Allan Nielsen, was left with plenty of time to add a fourth. The defender Paul Robinson rounded off the triumph for Ray Lewington's cash-strapped side with a drive from the left following a one-two with Smith.

As Watford tired, Coventry were able to sneak in a couple of consolation goals. The substitute Gary McSheffrey headed home before his captain, John Eustace, caught the home goalkeeper, Alec Chamberlain, off his line and finished neatly for the visitors' second.

Lewington was delighted with his team's performance until the last 10 minutes. "They know what would have been a fantastic day has been slightly spoilt," the Watford manager said. "It was probably a bit my fault as well. I wanted the 11 that performed so well to keep on and obviously [with] two games in three days there was some tired legs there."

Coventry's defeat was their first of the season and Gary McAllister's first as their manager. He admitted it was a humbling experience and said: "We came up against a different combination and couldn't cope, we came here looking to go top, but we leave with our tails between our legs."

Watford (3-5-2): Chamberlain; Ardley, Robinson, Cox, Dyche, Nielson, Hyde, Smith, Glass, Gayle, Webber. Substitutes not used: Vernazza, McNamee, Doyley, Foley, Lee (gk).

Coventry City (4-1-3-2): Hyldgaard; Gordon, Shaw, Eustace, Thompson, Hughes, Mcallister, Safri, Walsh, Bothroyd, Davenport. Substitutes not used: Peat, Chippo, Quinn, McSheffrey, Montgomery (gk).

Referee: M Ryan (Lancashire).