Swindon Town 1 Coventry City 2

[dutchman]

Sky Blues claim second away win of campaign



Coventry City recorded their second win on the road to inflict more home misery on promotion rivals Swindon Town in an entertaining game in Wiltshire.

The Sky Blues chalked up another hugely encouraging three points to keep them in the thick of things at the top end of League Two, seeing off the Robins who have only won one game at the County Ground so far this season.

Despite flying out of the blocks in the opening 15 minutes, City fell behind against the run of play when Luke Norris found the top corner before Michael Doyle got the visitors back on level terms just after the half hour.

The game was wide open and just as Town were beginning to gain a bit of momentum midway through the second half they were reduced to ten men when James Dunne was sent off for an off the ball incident with Doyle.

And with 14 minutes to go, Duckens Nazon popped up with a superb match winner to see the Sky Blues up to fourth in the table and send the incredibly vocal Sky Blue Army home happy.

Robins made just one change to his starting line-up with Max Biamou replacing the injured Peter Vincenti on a night when Stuart Beavon was ruled out for a second game with a back problem. That enabled Devon Kelly-Evans to retain his place in the side after his impressive full league debut and goal against Exeter at the weekend, while his twin Dion made a long-awaited return to the bench after recovering from injury.

Devon was deployed wide in the forward three with Nazon in the No.10 position behind Biamou who led the line with a great show of strength, while Jodi Jones started on the right and showed full-back Matt Taylor a clean pair of heels in the first 30 seconds before being taken out by Paul Mullin.

Biamou then had two chances in quick succession, first racing onto a terrific Michael Doyle ball to hit a low shot that Lawrence Vigouroux saved well at his near post before bursting clear a second time, only to be man handled to the deck just outside the box in a clear foul that should have resulted in a red card for the offending centre-half Chris Robertson.

However, referee Charles Breakspear inexplicably waved play on, much to the amazement of the City bench and the travelling support.

Biamou made an impressive start to the game, getting another shot off in the eighth minute in one of the best openings to a game from the Sky Blues, arguably all season, as they enjoyed three early corners and took the sting out of Town’s quick-start policy that they usually employ at home.

However, City’s excellent early work was undone in the 20th minute when striker Norris was given far too much time in the box to hook home a Kellan Gordon centre, firing into the top corner.

Keshi Anderson went close to doubling the lead minutes later when he hit a first time shot inches wide as the game that was in danger of taking a dramatic turn in Town’s favour.

But City stayed strong, kept pushing forward and got back on level terms just after the half hour mark courtesy of a bit of overdue luck when Jones hit a low cross that took a wicked deflection off a defender and fell kindly into the path of Doyle on the edge of the six-yard box with just the keeper to beat. And the skipper made no mistake as he slotted coolly past Vigouroux to get his side back in the game.

The game was wide open to the break with Jones taking a brilliant first touch to get past his marker and into the box before being spun to the ground and seeing yet another appeal for a foul being ignored by the match official, while Paul Mullin was allowed far too much space to test Burge at the other end.

Both sides started the second half as they had finished the first with the Sky Blues seeing another penalty appeal turned down when Robertson tackled Nazon in the box, the striker going down and throwing his arms in the air looking for the decision.

Robins’s men were again taking the initiative with Jones causing problems on the right and sending dangerous balls across the face of goal as Doyle and Liam Kelly did an outstanding holding job in midfield, helping to break up Town’s play and recycle the ball in the opposition half.

Town started seeing more of the ball on the hour, sending on fresh legs in Donal McDermott and Amine Linganzi as Coventry found themselves defending deeper and deeper.

But the game suddenly turned ugly on 70 minutes with tackles flying in left, right and centre and the referee sending off James Dunne for pushing Doyle in the face off the ball. Doyle was also booked, as was Rod McDonald shortly after for a blatant foul on Norris as he threatened to run through.

Anderson went close as ten man Town kept up the pressure but tiring Nazon put City in front for the first time with a superb 25-yard strike. Receiving the ball just outside the D, the on loan Wolves man looked up and curled a brilliant shot round the keeper to give the Sky Blues a 76th minute lead.

Jordan Shipley was thrown on for Jones to help keep things tight in the last ten minutes when Anderson went agonisingly close to an equaliser, sending the ball wide of the far post.

Chris Stokes had to go off with a shoulder injury with a minute of normal time to go, replaced by Tom Davies, ahead of seven long minutes of added time.

Substitute Harry Smith went down appealing for a penalty which, in keeping with his form on the night, the ref waved away to incur the wrath of the home support this time. Marc McNulty was then thrown on for the last three minutes, replacing Biamou, to help City stretch the opposition and see the game out, with Nazon almost adding a second when he shaved the post at the death.

Attendance: 6,340 (702 away)