Match Pack: Watford v Coventry City

• Watford v Coventry City
• Sky Bet Championship
• Vicarage Road
• Saturday March 9, 3pm KO
• Yellow and black home kit

• Referee: Robert Madley
• Assistant Referees: Craig Taylor and Darren Williams
• Fourth Official: Matt Corlett

Coventry City currently sit as one of several teams challenging for the final two play-off places, and will feel a good run of results between now and the end of the season will earn them a second shot at promotion to the Premier League in as many seasons.

At the moment, Mark Robins' team occupy eighth, only three points off Hull City in the final play-off place, and six points behind West Brom in fifth.

Their form in the league has been up and down in recent weeks, with three wins, three defeats and one draw since the start of February. However, they will hope a comprehensive 5-0 victory over struggling Rotherham United on Tuesday can act as the catalyst to consistently positive results.

This marked their second victory by such a margin in a week following their dismantling of non-league Maidstone United to earn a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Ellis Simms scored hat-tricks in both games.

• Watford have won just one of their last nine league games against Coventry City (D6 L2), failing to score in five of those matches.

• Coventry City have won just one of their last four away league games (D1 L2) after winning three in a row between December and January.

• The Sky Blues have scored more goals (16) in the final 15 minutes of the game than in any other period. They rank fifth in the league for goals conceded (42), and fourth in the league for goals scored (57). Only five of these strikes have come from outside the box.

Click HERE for a full statistical breakdown.

Valérien Ismaël has confirmed that Ken Sema will be unavailable for this fixture, with the Swede having a scan on the injury that forced him off against Swansea to determine the severity.

Jeremy Ngakia is only other absentee as he continues to recovery from a knee injury sustained in last weekend's defeat to Millwall.

For Coventry, Ben Sheaf is set to make his return in some capacity after six weeks on the sidelines.

Valérien Ismaël, Watford Head Coach:"

"It is another tough game - we know that from the reverse fixture as well, 3-3 in an entertaining game.

"We are ready, all the games are difficult but in this league anyone can beat anyone, and now it is our turn to make sure that we are doing the right thing, like in the second half against Swansea."

Mark Robins, Coventry City Manager:

"Watford are a side that came down a few years ago and were expected to go back up at first attempt but didn’t and things change over time and people move on.

"Going to Watford is always a difficult challenge and we expect that again tomorrow; we know it’s a tough place to go.”

Overall:

Won: 42
Drawn: 19
Lost: 37

Last Six:

September 2023: Coventry City 3-3 Watford (Championship)
April 2023: Watford 2-2 Coventry City (Championship)
November 2022: Watford 0-1 Coventry City (Championship)
February 2021: Coventry City 0-0 Watford (Championship)
November 2020: Watford 3-2 Coventry City (Championship)
August 2019: Watford 3-0 Coventry City (League Cup)

The Hornets earned their second 3-2 win thanks to late Ismaïla Sarr effort within four days in the home victory against the Sky Blues in November 2020. The Sengalese winger's 84th-minute penalty decided the behind-closed-doors match in which both sides had been ahead.