Coventry beat Watford 3-1 to stay top after a 12-game unbeaten run

Coventry City extended their unbeaten start to the Championship season with a 3-1 win over Watford at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Saturday, taking a sixth consecutive victory as Brandon Thomas‑Asante, Jamie Allen and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto struck before half time. Watford reduced the deficit from the penalty spot through Imran Louza after the break, but Coventry held on to maintain their position at the top of the table.

Thomas‑Asante opened the scoring in the third minute with a header from a Sakamoto cross, and Allen doubled the lead four minutes later after Milan van Ewijk’s long throw was partially cleared into his path. Sakamoto added a third from the edge of the D just before half time. Watford were reduced to ten men shortly before the interval when James Abankwah was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul on Haji Wright as the striker bore down on goal.

The second half was more competitive. Coventry had a Haji Wright effort ruled out for offside in the 17th minute and enjoyed long spells of possession, but a foul by Liam Kitching on Vivaldo Semedo led to a penalty on 68 minutes which Louza converted. Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth produced several...