Key keywords: Watford v Coventry City, Vicarage Road live match updates, EFL Championship 2024/25, Watford starting lineup, Coventry City team news, Championship playoff race, live EFL match commentary, EFL injury news We are bringing you minute-by-minute live updates and confirmed team news from the high-stakes EFL Championship clash between Watford and Coventry City at Vicarage Road this Saturday afternoon, a fixture with huge implications for both sides’ end-of-season targets. First, confirmed team news released 60 minutes before kickoff: Watford head coach Valérien Ismael has named an unchanged starting XI from the side that claimed a 2-0 away win over Middlesbrough last weekend, with in-form striker Mileta Rajović leading the line, having scored three goals in his last three consecutive appearances. Midfielder Ismaël Koné returns to the matchday squad after recovering from a minor hamstring strain, named on the bench alongside forward Rhys Healey, who has scored four goals as a substitute this season. For Coventry City, manager Mark Robins has made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Sunderland last time out: defender Jake Bidwell replaces the injured Jay Dasilva at left-back, while Ellis Simms gets the start up front ahead of Matty Godden, who is struggling with a minor knock. Key midfielder Ben Sheaf remains sidelined with an ongoing ankle injury, and is not expected to return for another two weeks. As of the 78th minute of live play, the scoreline is level at 1-1. Coventry took the lead in the 23rd minute, when centre-back Liam Kitching rose highest to meet Milan van Ewijk’s in-swinging corner, powering a header past Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann from six yards out, sparking wild celebrations among the 3,200 travelling Coventry fans packed into the away end. Watford dominated possession for the rest of the first half but failed to create any clear-cut chances, leading Ismael to make a double substitution at half time, bringing on Healey and winger Ken Sema to add extra attacking threat. The change paid off in the 67th minute, when Tom Ince delivered a pinpoint cross from the right flank, and Rajović nodded home from close range to equalise for the home side. As it stands, VAR officials are reviewing a potential handball in the Coventry penalty area, after a Watford cross appeared to strike the arm of Coventry defender Bobby Thomas. A win for Coventry today would lift them to 5th place in the Championship table, cementing their spot in the playoff positions with just eight games remaining in the regular season. For Watford, three points would move them up to 9th place, cutting the gap to the top six to just four points and keeping their own outside playoff chances alive. The atmosphere at Vicarage Road remains electric, with both sets of fans singing non-stop as the match heads into its final 12 minutes plus stoppage time.