Watford signed off from the Premiership in style with a victory that gave Coventry the unwanted record of going through a whole campaign without an away win.

The first half was played in a decided carnival atmosphere with few rash challenges from either side.

Steve Palmer should have opened the scoring as early as the third minute when he had a clear header in the middle of the penalty area, but sent it harmlessly over the bar.

Coventry looked the better of the sides in the first half, finding their way past the Watford back line at will.

However they never managed to produce a telling final ball and on the one occasion they did, Noel Whelan blasted high and wide from six yards.

Heidar Helguson continually caused problems for the visitors' defence and Coventry missed Steve Ogrizovic in their goal, with Magnus Hedman looking decidedly unsure of himself on crosses.

Hedman's uncertainty led to what proved to be Watford's winner two minutes before the break. Tommy Mooney nodded down a corner and, while Sky Blues defenders waiting for Hedman to claim the ball, Helguson reacted with a stunning bicycle kick to fire home.

Watford totally dominated the second half and they should have extended their lead.

They were not helped by referee Uriah Rennie who turned down appeals for what can only be described as a blatant penalty on 65 minutes. Helguson had rounded Hedman and was clear on goal, when the keeper's outstretched arm brought him down, only for Rennie to wave play on.

After that the game began to grind to a halt as Watford kept pushing the ball deep into Coventry territory.

To be fair to Gordon Strachan's men, they did push for the equaliser, and, in the last 10 minutes, surged forward.

But they were found wanting when it came to scoring and Watford had the Premiership send off they had hoped for.

Teams:

Watford: Day, Cox (Gibbs 51), Page, Ward, Robinson, Bonnot, Palmer, Perpetuini, Helguson, Smith, Mooney.

Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Easton, Gudmundsson, Foley.

Booked: Perpetuini.

Goals: Helguson 43.

Coventry: Hedman, Breen, Shaw, Williams (Gustafsson 46), Telfer, Hadji, Chippo, McAllister, Whelan, Keane, Zuniga (Normann 34), Normann (Quinn 78).

Subs Not Used: Eustace, Kirkland.

Booked: Telfer, Chippo.

Att: 18,977

Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).