Coventry City 1 - 1 Oldham Athletic

Andy Turner dissects a disappointing day for Tony Mowbray's men as they fail to close the gap on Burton Albion



An injury-time goal from old boy Danny Philliskirk cost Coventry City FC two precious points on a day when leaders Burton Albion were also surprisingly held at home.

Coventry City FC manager Mowbray made four changes from the team robbed at Bramall Lane last weekend, Aaron Phillips replacing suspended skipper Sam Ricketts while Gael Bigirimana was called up to replace the injured John Fleck.

Joe Cole and Ryan Kent were handed starting roles at the expense of Ruben Lameiras as Jacob Murphy, the latter dropping out of the matchday squad because of the five loan players rule.

City made a rousing start, Armstrong’ bursting through for a shot that was deflected past the near post.

But they found it frustrating going from then on as Athletic parked a double-decker buss across the field with veteran Richie Wellens patrolling between two banks of four and it was a quarter of an hour before Kent cut in for a shot that was blocked.

The Sky Blues suffered a major setback in the 24th minute as Ben Turner, heading the ball back to his keeper, went down as Jake Cassidy challenged and had to hobble off.

The one-way traffic continued – Kent dribbling through but pulling his shot wide while O’Brien battled his way into the box but saw his left-foot effort blocked by Cornell – and the breakthrough arrived three minutes into the second half.

Stokes meets Cole’s inswinging corner with a downward header that Jones headed off the line, but that earned another flag-kick and this time Cole’s far-post delivery found Martin perfectly positioned to head his first goal for the Sky Blues.

With Plan A out of the window, Oldham suddenly discovered some attacking ambition, Cassidy cutting in for a low shot that Charles-Cook pushed past the post and Jones heading over from a good position.

But City continued to enjoy far pore possession, Kent denied a decent penalty shout as Eckersley dived in and then supplying the cross that saw Stokes scoop a first-time shot just wide.

Charles-Cook was at full stretch to diver Philliskirk’s 30-yarder, and Cassidy had a shot deflected wide as Oldham pushed in the closing stages.And disaster struck in injury time as Charles-Cook produced a superb save to turn Higdon’s header over the bar but was then surprisingly beaten as Philliskirk met Poelon’s corner with a glancing header.

The Sky Blues desperately tried to salvage the game but Cornell half-saved O’Brien’s shot and when Fortune turned the ball back into the area, Amstrong blasted his volley wide.

Attendance: 15,419 (259 away).