Coventry City 0 - 1 Rochdale

[dutchman]

[dutchman]

Sky Blues drop out of play-off zone for first time in 2015/16 season



Coventry City slipped out of the play-off zone for the first time this season when a late penalty condemned them to a third consecutive defeat.

The Sky Blues had their opportunities – visiting keeper Josh Lillis pulling off three excellent saves while Adam Armstrong had two efforts ruled out for offside – but Barnsley’s 3-1 win at Walsall means that the Tykes have moved ahead of them.

Tony Mowbray called up Joe Cole, James Maddison and Ruben Lameiras as the attacking trio in his favourite 4-2-3-1 formation as the Sky Blues looked to bounce back from two damaging defeats.

City showed their attacking intentions when Armstrong sliced an early shot yards wide but Rochdale, too, were looking lively up front and, having sprinted off his line to save at Henderson’s feet, Charles-Cook had to pull off a sharp save from McDermott.

Lameiras was unable to get in a clean shot when the referee played advantage after a foul on Maddison but Lillis had to pull off a brilliant stop when Cole freed Lameiras down the right and took the return to fire in a fierce shot.

Lillis held Maddison’s shot at the foot of the post after the midfielder had worked his way into the box with a couple of trademark stepovers.

The keeper was reprieved by the linesman’s flag when Armstrong volleyed in Fleck’s diagonal pass but it took a stunning save to deny the Newcastle teenager when he unleashed a ferocious shot just before the interval.

Bailey Cargill, who had looked less than comfortable after being clattered by McDermott in the 23rd minute, gave way to Martin Lorentzson at half-time and the revamped defence survived an early scared when header from a corner was thumped clear by Vincelot.

The pace of the game had dropped considerably from the first half although the home fans were sparked into life when referee Langford waved away penalty appeals as Maddison went down under challenge from McNulty.

McNulty was involved at the other end a few minutes later when Charles-Cook tipped his shot over the bar and City had a remarkable let-off from the corner when Canavan’s diving header hit team-mate Henderson who was standing on the line.

Lund then wide of the far post from prime position and Mowbray attempted to wrest back the attacking initiative by sending on Murphy and Fortune.

The move almost brought dividends as Lillis saved Murphy’s low shot following good work by Armstrong and when the roles were reversed Armstrong was ruled fractionally offside as he slid home the substitute’s through-ball.

But disaster struck as the match ticked into the final minute when John Fleck sent Henderson tumbling just inside the area and the Dale striker got up to send Charles-Cook the wrong way from the spot.

Attendance: 9,942 (lowest league gate at Ricoh this season).