Nottingham Forest 2 - 1 Coventry City
Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2020 2:12 am
The Sky Blues suffered last minute agony against Midland rivals Nottingham Forest at the City Ground
Coventry City were the architects of their own downfall when they conceded a last minute penalty to deny them what would have been a thoroughly deserved point against Nottingham Forest.
Callum O’Hare appeared to have rescued a valuable point for the Sky Blues who fell behind to a scrappy first half goal from Scott Mckenna.
And Mark Robins's men looked the more likely to go on to win the game at the City Ground until deep in stoppage time when Kyle McFadzean brought down Lyle Taylor at the death, leaving the striker to score the winner from the spot with the last kick of the game.
It was a hammer blow to the visitors and costly and cruel lesson on how not to see out a game at this level.
City made a positive start to the night, putting themselves about well and enjoying plenty of early possession as they attempted to take the game to the home side who steadily grew into the match.
And it was Marko Marosi who was the first keeper to be tested when Anthony Knockaert hit a powerful shot from outside the box that bobbled awkwardly in front of him, forcing him to push it out for a corner.
Gus Hamer hit City’s first shot of the game, his volley over the bar not coming until the 27th minute as the visitors struggled to create clear cut openings against a tight and well organised back four.
But the Sky Blues found themselves a goal down three minutes later when Luke Freeman had a shot blocked, the ball falling to Samba Sow whose own effort wriggled through to centre-half Scott McKenna to hit a clinical finish as Coventry appealed in vain for off-side.
Robins’s men desperately tried to get back on level terms before the break when they knocked the ball about well but were kept at arm’s length by Forest who constantly pressed them backwards.
City were desperately missing the attacking presence of Fankaty Dabo down the right in a hard working but ultimately fruitless opening half when chances were hard to come by.
That deficiency improved after the break when the visitors were a lot more lively and carved out their first real, clear cut chance when a slick back to front move saw Gus Hamer slip Biamou in on the left of the area, leaving the Frenchman to his a low shot across the keeper that thumped the foot of the far post and bounced kindly to a red shirt, allowing Forest to clear the danger.
Coventry were forced to make a change in the 55th minute when Matty Godden limped off injured, replaced by Tyler Walker who was making his first return to his boyhood club.
And found themselves back on level terms in the 57th minute when Sam McCallum sent in a delightful angled cross into the box where Callum O’Hare timed his run to perfection to nip in behind and head home past the helpless keeper Brice Samba.
It was a simple but lovely header from the lively attacking midfielder and a fully deserved reward for City’s confident start to the second period, which continued with Walker heading wide and Ben Sheaf testing the keeper from distance.
Biamou headed straight at the keeper from the first of three set-pieces as the Sky Blues looked the more likely to find another goal, which almost came in the 76th minute when O’Hare showed quick feet in the box, only to be denied by a good save by Samba.
The Forest keeper then raced out and took out Walker to spark a row between the two management camps as the striker required lengthy treatment ahead of a frantic end to the game with City going all out for the win.
But a mis-placed pass from Biamou sparked a Forest counter attack with 90+6 minutes on the clock, and Tayler was brought down in the area by McFadzean, leaving the home striker to grab the full three points.