Coventry avoided dropping into the bottom three with a hard-earned victory over Watford at Vicarage Road.

Defeat by the Hornets, who were unbeaten in five home league matches, would have seen Coventry slip below Gillingham and into the drop zone but goals from Trevor Benjamin, Claus Jorgensen and Michael Doyle earned Micky Adams' men three vital points.

Watford skipper Bruce Dyer celebrated his return to the starting line-up by cancelling out Benjamin's opener, but City were 3-1 ahead before Danny Webber's late consolation.

Dyer, starting at the expense of Hameur Bouazza, should have put the Hornets ahead in the early stages but his header from Jermaine Darlington's cross flew wide.

Scott Shearer, making his first appearance in the Sky Blues goal since September after being recalled from a loan spell at Rushden, kept out Ashley Young's drive before Coventry went ahead.

Stephen Hughes, City's emergency goalkeeping hero following Ian Bennett's dismissal in the goalless draw against Stoke last week, proved his worth at the other end after Johnnie Jackson had upended Stern John.

Hughes floated in a delightful free-kick and much-travelled striker Benjamin rose highest to nod the ball past Richard Lee for his first goal for Coventry.

The hosts got back on level terms just after the half-hour mark when Webber broke clear down the left.

The former Manchester United youngster squared the ball for Dyer, who had the simple task of tucking the ball past the helpless Shearer from five yards.

Coventry went on the offensive right from the start of the second half, and their endeavour was rewarded when Jorgensen grabbed his second goal of the season.

Hughes' corner was cleared to the edge of the area, from where Jorgensen slammed the ball into the roof of the net and after a brief discussion among the officials, the goal was given.

Lee kept out a shot from John and Gary McSheffrey drove the ball wide as City looked for the killer third.

Dyer thought he had put the game out of reach when he met James Chambers' cross, but the ball agonisingly cannoned off the crossbar.

But moments later Coventry gave themselves some breathing space. McSheffrey scampered clear down the left and played in Doyle, who fired the ball across Lee and into the net.

Webber took advantage of some slack defending to burst through before sliding the ball past Shearer with five minutes remaining, but City held on to take the points.

Teams:

Watford Lee, Chambers, Cox, Demerit, Darlington (Bouazza 74), Eagles, Jackson, Blizzard (Gunnarsson 61), Young (McNamee 61), Dyer, Webber.

Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Ardley.

Goals: Dyer 32, Webber 84.

Coventry Shearer, Hall, Williams, Staunton, Duffy, McSheffrey (Osbourne 81), Jorgensen, Hughes, Doyle, Benjamin, John (Johnson 87).

Subs Not Used: Whing, Adebola, Morrell.

Booked: Jorgensen.

Goals: Benjamin 14, Jorgensen 54, Doyle 78.

Att: 13,794

Ref: M Thorpe (Suffolk).