AFC Wimbledon 1 - 1 Coventry City

[dutchman]

[dutchman]

Sky Blues concede in stoppage time



Coventry ended their sequence of five consecutive defeats – but their record run of matches without a league win now stands at 15 after they were pegged back deep into injury time.

The Sky Blues fought brilliantly from first whistle to almost the last but – just as against Peterborough and Bolton – they were stripped of two crucial points in the dying seconds. It means that Russell Slade is still waiting for his first league win after nine attempts, equalling the worst-ever start by a City boss since Noel Cantwell.

And he must be wondering what he has to do to turn that demoralising tide after his team gave him all the physical commitment he could have asked for. Yakubu was on the bench as Slade opted for a 4-1-4-1 formation – Kevin Foley protecting the back line while Marcus Tudgay was the lone wolf up front. Lee Burges was restored in goal after Reice Charles-Cook’s traumatic experience in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat against Oldham Athletic while Kwame Thomas, who notched a fine consolation goal at Boundary Park, was on the left of the midfield four with namesake George on the left.

That new defensive formation was tested as the Dons got off to a frenetic start to whip up the atmosphere in the tight Cherry Red Records Stadium. It was all hands to the City pumps in the opening ten minutes but they kept Burge well protected and gradually began to create some forward movement. And it was the Sky Blues who almost broke the deadlock with a classic counter attack in the 18th minute, George Thomas skinning Robertson in a sprint from the half-way line. Keeper Shea stood firm to block his shot, however, and the home cavalry arrived in time to block Rose’s follow-up.

That sparked a sequence of four corners in rapid succession, Shea having to produce an excellent punch to clear one from just under his bar. It took the Londoners 25 minutes to produce their first genuine attempt, a fierce Soares volley from penalty-spot range, and Burge responded splendidly to turn it over the top. The game continued at a harum-scarum pace, with no lack of hard work and commitment but precious little in the way of craft. Burge played his part with some confident aerial work – getting away with his one semi-fumble – and the only other scent of a breakthrough came in injury time when Robertson almost got a decisive toe to Francomb’s low free-kick.

The pattern continued in the second half until the hour mark when Dons unveiled a quality free-kick routine, Robertson nodding Francomb’s angled delivery back into the middle but Taylor heading well over from prime position. That signalled Yakubu’s entry into the equation, replacing Tudgay at the sharp end (although his first chore was to supplement the defence for a brace of corners) and Slade added more fresh energy when he sent on Jones for George Thomas.

It took just three minutes for that adjustment to yield dividends as Jones cut in from the right to unleash a fierce low shot that flicked Shea’s stretching glove to nestle into the far corner. Wimbledon produced a predictable response, pumping balls down both flanks in a bid to open up the City defence, but the men in red and black stood firm, never embarrassed to send clearances into or over the stands.

Rose and Kwame Thomas’s aerial presence proved important, too, as City defended for their lives. But they were cruelly denied in the third of four overtime minutes when one final home fling saw the ball drop to Robinson who smashed it past Burge.