Valerien Ismael takes huge swipe at Coventry City as Watford owners wield the axe

Perhaps it was sour grapes, or maybe he knew what was coming, but Valerien Ismael had little good to say about Coventry City in the hours before he was sacked as Watford boss.

Mark Robins’ play-off contenders rallied from a goal down at Vicarage Road to win 2-1 and ultimately seal Ismael’s fate after a run of one win in 10 league games.

Perhaps mindful of the Watford owners’ lack of patience with under-performing managers, Ismael chose to be critical of the Sky Blues rather than focus on his own team, who last won at Vicarage Road on November 28.