First-half goals from João Pedro and Imrân Louza weren’t enough to earn Watford all three points as Coventry City levelled the score after the break in an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

It was a dream start for the Golden Boys in the West Midlands as João Pedro opened the scoring inside six minutes by rolling it into the bottom corner, after a lethal counter attack that saw Watford go from back to front in a matter of seconds.

After a lively opening 20 minutes that saw both sides squander decent chances, the Hornets remained dangerous heading into added time before the interval. After finding his first strike blocked, Louza made no mistake on his second attempt as he doubled Watford’s lead heading into the break.

Although the visitors began the second half strongly, the home side got their first of the afternoon as Matt Godden’s finish reinvigorated the Sky Blues. Ben Sheaf would deliver the equaliser during the final 20 minutes of the encounter, as the contest ended all square.

Watford Head Coach Chris Wilder made six changes from Good Friday’s defeat to Huddersfield Town (April 7). Notably, the suspended Daniel Bachmann made way for Ben Hamer in-between the sticks, while Academy full-back Ryan Andrews settled in for his league debut in yellow.

Despite the Sky Blues having the first effort on goal, Watford were the first to break the deadlock after a rapid series of moves.

Centre-half Ryan Porteous aimed his pass towards the partnership of João Pedro and Britt Assombalonga, the latter of which dummied the ball allowing João Pedro to progress unmarked towards the Coventry goal. Continuing to drive into space, the Brazilian slid the ball past Ben Wilson, nestling into the home side’s net.

Despite playing a crucial part in the opener, Assombalonga was forced to make way for Henrique Araújo inside the first 10 minutes after picking up an injury moments after the goal.

Watford had to remain alert in defence as Coventry threatened to equalise, and Gustavo Hamer saw his side-footed effort saved by his namesake Hamer in goal for the Hornets.

The breathtaking opening continued to deliver as Louza’s pin-point free-kick found a lone João Pedro who diverted his header goalwards, but it was a comfortable save for Wilson, before Ismaïla Sarr blasted his own effort over the bar minutes later.

As the clock moved past the half-an-hour mark and towards the interval, both sides settled into patterns of play as the contest’s intensity naturally slowed. The away front three of Araújo, Sarr and João Pedro continued to search for the second, while Coventry were restricted to long-range efforts.

Following impressive defensive restraint, including key blocks from Porteous, Watford’s attack built upon the foundations offered by the backline, allowing Louza to double the Hornets’ lead with an impressive effort before the break.

The move began with Sarr waltzing his way into the 18-yard box before laying it off to the central midfielder. Looking to create an angle for a chance, Louza found his first strike blocked by a Coventry shirt, but the Moroccan couldn’t be denied a second time as he sweetly hit a half-volley into the bottom corner, handing Watford a two-goal lead.

After the break, the 23-year-old looked to pick up from where he left off as he fired an effort from range, and with the ball dipping Wilson was forced to parry it away and nearly into the path of Araùjo.

The home side certainly weren’t out of it as Sheaf flashed an effort along the face of goal, and in their next attacking move Godden curled an effort into the bottom corner to half Coventry’s deficit.

A brief period of instability followed as Watford looked to regain their composure they had exhibited just minutes earlier, as they looked to weather the storm presented by Coventry and their attacking players.

Chances for Sheaf and Viktor Gyökeres came and went during this time, but Hamer and his backline held firm under a barrage of Coventry chances, giving Wilder enough time to bring in the experienced Craig Cathcart for Andrews after an impressive league debut from the 18-year-old.

Eventually, Watford’s resilience would be broken by Sheaf as he headed in the equaliser inside the six-yard box with under 20 minutes to go in the encounter.

João Pedro looked to respond immediately to the leveller as he headed on Louza’s corner, but the Brazilian glanced it over the crossbar to the disappointment of the travelling support behind the goal.

Heading into the final moments of a match that had returned to its breathless intensity originally shown at the start, Wilder introduced Ken Sema and Yáser Asprilla to proceedings to increase Watford’s attacking output, but the changes were unable to have the desired effect as the match ended level.

The Hornets will look to go one better when they welcome Bristol City to Vicarage Road this Saturday (April 15, 3pm KO) in another crucial Sky Bet Championship outing.