Head Coach Chris Wilder felt there were positives to take from Watford’s 2-2 draw with Coventry City at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

João Pedro and Imrân Louza got Wilder’s side off to the perfect start as the Hornets went into the break with a two-goal lead, but at the full-time whistle the Sky Blues had fought back to earn themselves a point through Matt Godden and Ben Sheaf.

The boss explained that the match was full of ups and downs throughout a blustery afternoon, but he acknowledged that it was a marked improvement from defeat to Huddersfield Town last time out (Friday April 7).

“It was a rollercoaster,” Wilder began. “Being in the position we were in after our first-half performance and getting the goals we did, and then really we were one or two passes off [in the second half].

“There was a totally different feel to the team today and I thought the shape worked well for us, but only because we did the fundamentals of the game well for at least the first hour before they scored. I’m absolutely certain that the distance we covered will be as high as we have covered in our last three games.

“We won our headers, the first goal came from a Ryan Porteous tackle and we were positive. We held the ball at the top of the pitch, and got it out to our 10s – it was a different feel to the team and we did the fundamental aspects and non-negotiables better than we have done. We all wanted to step into the game and be a part of it.

“I’ll be really respectful to Mark Robins’ side because they have Viktor Gyökeres who is the best player in the division in my opinion. He is such a handful and they are a really good attacking side. Mark has done a great job here, so for us to get into that position [was good] and then we went looking for a third and we should’ve found it.

“That’s my little criticism, that we should’ve found a third. I believe that the third goal is the most important in the game and then they get it through a couple of mistakes and all of a sudden the picture changes. We are a little bit fragile from a confidence point of view, but it gave them a huge lift and then we were on the back foot.”

Speaking on what he demanded from his side in the West Midlands, Wilder mentioned that in the build-up to the game against the Sky Blues his message was clear.

He said: “The players are obviously disappointed, but the message to them this week was that the league table will look after itself – we needed to put a proper performance in and get ourselves going.

“We just lost that little bit of shape and Coventry got themselves going which we always knew they would, but I’d rather see that then them walking off the pitch as we did against Luton Town and Huddersfield Town, and feeling the way I did personally.

“We rolled the dice at the death putting Ken Sema and Yáser Asprilla on, and we tried to change the shape. We just lost our shape and went a little bit individual.

“We just emptied the middle of the park a little bit too easily and it allowed them to jump in and dominate that period. Coventry will be disappointed they didn’t win it, and we are disappointed we didn’t take it to three after the second half.”

On 18-year-old Ryan Andrews, who made his league debut for the Hornets, Wilder was impressed with the Academy product’s performance.

Wilder continued: “I thought he was great. I can remember making my debut all those years ago, emotionally and physically it takes it out of you and he just ran out of puff a little bit. He can be really pleased because he played a part in the really good things we did, he just ran out of steam a little bit.

“We just went and tried to slot Craig Cathcart in there with his experience, so Ryan can be pleased with his performance which is another good thing that has happened today.”

Britt Assombalonga, who played a key part in the opener, was forced to come off during the first half after picking up a knock, and Wilder felt it was a shame to lose his presence up top.

“It’s a disappointment for Britt because he has been great in training and knocking on the door,” he added. “Keinan Davis didn’t make it, so it was disappointing to lose Britt early on. He has been great with his attitude.

“[It is a] hamstring [injury] – I should imagine that’s it for the season for him. He has been knocking on my door and he wants to play. He has deserved a start. He makes forward runs and it was difficult because he is a physical presence and he is a target for us. We started off the game great and Assombalonga was the focal point of it.”