WATFORD 0-0 COVENTRY CITY SAT MARCH 17THTH AT Vicarage Road
City: Murphy, Clarke (Christie 85), Cameron, Keogh, Cranie, Clingan, McSheffrey, Deegan, Norwood, Nimely (McDonald 72), Platt Subs Hussey, Dunn, Thomas
Watford: Kusczak, Doyley, Dickinson, Mariappa, Nosworthy, Eustace, Kacaniklic (Yeates), Murray, Assombalonga (Iwelumo 60), Deeney, Hogg. SNU Loach, Taylor, Garner.
HT WFC 0-0 CCFC FT WFC 0-0 CCFC ATT 12,563
Referee C.Webster Assts O.Sally & A.Slaughter
Booked Murray, Deeney
Man Of The Match - Cody McDonald took the votes ahead of Oliver Norwood and Richard Keogh.
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CITY SUPPORT A good turn out of 1058 City supporters who made plenty of noise.
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CITY TEAM: Andy Thorn made only one change with Gary Deegan coming in. A rare instance in that that christian names all of City's subs started today with the letter C.
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DIRECTOR WATCH
Only Tim Fisher plus associate directors Noel Hand and David Shortland were in attendance.
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Coventry City battled well but had no goals to show for a trip to Watford.
When I woke up this morning the tune going round my head was "Go For It City" and with no away games this season and City deeply entrenched in the bottom three, this is what the Sky Blues needed to.
The players and management could not question the City support which was in fine voice in the pubs around the ground and in the three sided home of the Hornets.
The Sky Blue Song greeted the City team as they made their way on to the pitch and took on a Watford side, which soon had former Sky Blue John Eustace sporting a bandage on his head after he threw himself in to an early challenge.
Wearing sky blue and attacking the end where the City fans were for the first half, City had to deal with a couple of corners, the second of which was headed wide by Murray.
Either side of a chorus of "Escape To Victory", City won two corners. The second was in the 24th minute and saw Natheron Cameron head in. Unfortunately, referee Colin Webster blew his whistle before the ball hit the back of the net and ruled out the goal for a shove.
Despite Sammy Clingan giving the ball away and Clive Platt struggling in the aerial challenges, City nearly took the lead in the 34th minute when McSheffrey crossed and Platt got in a header that Adrian Mariappa cleared off the line and in stoppage time, Oliver Norwood rifled in a twenty yarder which his team-mate at Manchester United reserves got down to and managed to scramble away.
Watford's mascot did his best to try and create an atmosphere amongst the home fans by banging a drum and being declared an embarrassment as the Sky Blues struggled to find the room they needed to get the front runners in against a Watford side which was really there for the taking.
Gary McSheffrey had a shot pushed away before Andy Thorn who had received a ticking off from the referee for voicing his opinion, sent on Cody McDonald for Alex Nimely.
A bad error by Clingan was only stopped from leading to a goal by Joe Murphy who had a decent game, making a good 74th minute save to deny Deeney and then Eustace.
Seven minutes later and Cody McDonald got past the keeper but send his shot wide of the open goal.
The Watford fans were asked to stop whistling before Cyrus Christie came on for Jordan Clarke who had a reasonable game.
Six minutes of stoppage time was announced. Cody McDonald got round Kuszczak once again but Adrian Mariappa cleared off the line and City had to be happy with only their fourth away point of the season