Coventry City 3 - 2 West Bromwich Albion

[dutchman]

Josh Eccles started the Coventry comeback with his first goal of the season



Championship leaders Coventry City stormed back from 2-0 down to beat 10-man West Bromwich Albion in an exhilarating and breathless Midlands derby at the CBS Arena.

A chaotic, chance-laden contest played in the teeming rain saw the Baggies take control thanks to two carbon-copy strikes by Aune Heggebo.

But Coventry were unperturbed and continued to create opportunities, one of which ended with Josh Eccles heading home an inviting Tatsuhiro Sakamoto cross to make it 2-1 at the interval.

With the impetus now with the Sky Blues, the odds of a home win heightened considerably when Jayson Molumby was sent off for his second yellow card.

Coventry quickly took full advantage against the rattled visitors, with two goals inside five minutes earning a third consecutive victory and an 11th win in 16 league games this season.

Ellis Simms levelled with close-range header and Victor Torp's beautifully controlled volley bounced down and past keeper Josh Griffiths to earn the three points.

Griffiths made a couple of fine saves to keep the scoreline down but the Baggies rarely threatened to snatch a point.

Coventry's seemingly relentless march towards the Premier League looked to be heading for a setback as the Baggies held off a confident start to go ahead when Heggebo turned the ball in at the near post from an excellent Mikey Johnston centre.

He wasted a glorious headed chance to make it 2-0 soon after but the Norwegian was soon celebrating again as he stretched to convert another Johnston cross to double the lead.

The Sky Blues were just as threatening, however with, Sakamoto causing problems and a fizzing Torp shot clipped the top of the bar, while Simms and Eccles also went close.

Molumby's red card four minutes after the interval left the Baggies unable to cope and Simms' glancing header and Torp's seventh goal of the season following a half-cleared corner put the hosts firmly on top with 30 minutes still to play.

Frank Lampard's side were unable to add to their 43 league goals this season but did not need a fourth to secure victory and give them an eight-point lead at the top of the table.

They are next in action away to Middlesbrough on Tuesday, while West Brom host Birmingham City in a big derby showdown the following evening.

Coventry head coach Frank Lampard told BBC CWR:

"You're going to get tested, you can't play this many games in a season and have it all your own way, or not expect a team like West Brom to have the quality to capitalise on moments.

"I think we fully deserved it in the end, and from being 2-0 down, that shows the level of resilience in the group.

"I believed at half-time that we wouldn't lose the game against 11 because of the way we finished the first half, Josh's goal was great for him from not having played so much.

"And it was Josh's turn which gets the second clear yellow card, which was a red - a shame for them but at the same time it was good play from us, but then you've got to deal with 10 men which is a challenge because they sink, but we gave them real problems because we moved the ball to the sides great and did everything we wanted to do."