Lampard’s side have been red hot in front of goal this season, hitting the net 34 times in a dozen league games.

And those in sky blue gathered at the Coventry Building Society Arena did not have to wait too long for the streak to continue with Thomas-Asante bagging his ninth league goal of the season after just three minutes.

Sakamoto provided the assist with a nicely floated ball in from the right flank and Thomas-Asante timed his jump perfectly to glance the ball past Egil Selvik in the Watford goal.

Allen, in for Victor Torp who was out with a calf strain, then capitalised on a poor headed clearance to hammer home a low shot from the edge of the area to quickly double the lead.

Sakamoto added Coventry’s third on 42 minutes, pouncing on a miscued header from Abankwah and firing home from the edge of the area.

The defender then compounded his error when he was sent off for a last-man foul on Haji Wright two minutes later and the red card created a mountain that Watford never looked likely to scale in the second period.

For all Coventry’s dazzling form at the sharp end of the pitch, Lampard will take equal pleasure in their solid defensive record. Louza’s penalty after Carl Rushworth felled Vivaldo Semedo was only the second goal conceded in their past six league wins.

For the visitors there was plenty to take away despite defeat.

In the first half alone, the Hornets might have had four goals of their own with Rushworth outstanding in the Coventry goal.

The Sky Blues goalkeeper produced three stops one-on-one to deny Rocco Vata and a sharp save to tip an effort from Louza around the post to emerge firmly in credit despite gifting Watford a spot-kick in the second half.

For all that Watford were well beaten judged on the scoreline, Javi Gracia will have seen plenty of forward talent to work with in only his third match in charge as he sets out on his second stint as Hornets manager, five years on from the first.

Defensively they need work, perhaps, but then again they will not play statistically the best attack in the country every week.