Watford 1, City 0: City left Vicarage Road incensed after a late penalty from Watford skipper Neil Cox denied them a point from a determined rearguard action this afternoon.

Jermaine Pennant went down under pressure from Lewis Emanuel and the home side were awarded a hotly-disputed spot-kick with only two minutes to go as a dour game finished in explosive and unsatisfactory fashion.

City were hit by another pre-match injury shock after Andy Myers pulled out in pain from training yesterday.

The current player of the year was today due to go under the knife for a double hernia operation - which could rule him out of action for two months.

So Mark Bower returned to the heart of the defence after being left out of the last three games.

The other change was up front following Delroy Facey's return to Bolton from his loan spell. That meant a first match since August 17 for Andy Tod following four hernia operations.

Having laid the ghost last week, with the win over Nottingham Forest ending a run of seven straight defeats, City had two more hoodoos in their sights this afternoon. They had lost their last seven games on the road - and hoped to put that record straight on a ground where they had never won before.

Aidan Davison was into the action straight away, rushing out of the box to clear for a throw and then taking a low cross from Allan Nielsen.

Pennant whipped in a dangerous cross in the fourth minute which Simon Francis knocked over his own bar.

An alert save from Davison prevented an opening goal. A sliding tackle by Francis diverted the ball invitingly into Heider Helguson's path in the penalty area but Davison narrowed the angle and blocked with his knees.

It was a forceful start by the home side, who had won only once in their last seven games to drop out of the play-off places

Pennant in particular was causing problems on the right flank and another fizzing ball skidded off Atherton before Tod deposited it behind for another Watford corner.

Helguson made another dart down the right after 15 minutes to set up Tommy Smith for a shot deflected behind as City remained under the cosh.

Francis looked to have a real escape midway through the first half when Pennant produced another lethal cross which the young defender appeared to handle as, facing his own goal, he managed to usher the ball wide. But referee Alan Butler was unimpressed by the home shouts for a penalty.

Emanuel was struggling to hold Pennant, whose next cross was whipped off Nielsen's toes by the sliding Robert Molenaar for another Watford corner. The Dutchman was in the thick of it again to block a through ball from Micah Hyde.

It was pretty much all one way with home keeper Alec Chamberlain a spectator in an opening half hour in which the Bantams had failed to register a shot of any kind.

Paolo Vernazza robbed Jamie Lawrence to spark another attack after 34 minutes. He fed Smith who advanced menacingly but Mark Bower got an important touch to divert his drive wide.

The corner count reached 8-0 as Watford spurned a decent chance, skipper Neil Cox sending a free header wastefully over the bar. Pennant drifted a shot wide as the procession continued.

The crowd had gone quiet as the match started to drift along, perhaps sensing that Watford might be made to pay for failing to turn possession into goals.

But spirits were lifted by Pennant who crossed to the near post where Marcus Gayle was thwarted by the high leg of Molenaar for yet another corner.

Again Neal Ardley's kick was dealt with and Francis charged down a shot by Gayle as City frustrated Watford with numbers.

Helguson had taken a knock and was replaced two minutes before the break by Dominic Foley.

As half-time beckoned, City finally woke up Chamberlain as Michael Standing set off on a break before rifling a right-footer over from 25 yards.

Half-time: Watford 0 City 0

Gray was fouled just outside the angle of the Watford box to present City with a chance at the start of the second half. Standing drove the free-kick low and it passed through a crowd of legs before going out for City's first corner.

Francis hit it deep and it needed an excellent defensive header from Robinson to beat the predatory Bower at the far post.

Standing lobbed a cross into the arms of Chamberlain but there was already more attacking incentive about the visitors than there had been in the first 45 minutes.

Davison, though, was called upon to save low at his near post from substitute Foley who had slipped away from Francis.

The home crowd were roaring for a penalty in the 54th minute as Foley went down in a clash with Molenaar but none of the players appealed to an unimpressed referee.

Watford won their first corner of the half - and tenth of the match - but after a bout of head tennis, a blanket of claret and blue shirts again smothered the danger.

Pennant charged away dangerously only to be sent tumbling by Bower. The City defender complained furiously that Pennant had dived but was booked for the foul.

Francis was improving after his uncertain start to the game and showed his composure to clear from Foley under pressure inside the City box.

Tod, who had seen little of the ball, nearly ruffled Chamberlain as the keeper allowed a ball to run out of play by the corner flag. Tod managed to get a touch as he challenged him right on the line but was unable to force the corner off the goalkeeper.

Then out of nothing Chamberlain had to pull off a superb save to deny Jorgensen after 63 minutes.

The Dane let rip from 25 yards with a dipping volley which forced Chamberlain to arch back and tip the ball behind.

That encouraged City, who broke quickly from defence with Gray sending Emanuel on a burst down the left wing, but his return ball was poor and Cox was able to get the ball clear of Tod.

Jorgensen was hacked down as City earned a free-kick outside the D. Standing left it for Gray who curled the shot over the wall but straight at Chamberlain.

Gray again sent Emanuel scurrying and this time the cross was better. But Tod failed to make a contact and Robinson hustled the ball away from danger.

Another penalty claim was waved aside as Noel-Williams went down in a one-on-one with Bower as the pair battled for a high ball.

Paul Evans came on for Tod with four minutes left - and was booked before he had even touched the ball for a lunge on Robinson.

Then in the 88th minute Pennant charged into the box and went down as Emanuel tried to usher the ball out of play. To City's fury, referee Butler pointed to the spot and after some argy-bargy COX drove the penalty into the roof of the net.

Tempers were flaring as players from both sides continued to square up. The assistant referee flagged and Gray was shown a yellow card.