Coventry City 3 - 1 Rotherham United

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The Sky Blues recorded a superb victory over fellow Championship strugglers Rotherham United



Max Biamou and Tyler Walker set Coventry City on their way to a brilliant fourth Championship win of the season in a hugely encouraging display at home to Rotherham United.

The pair combined for the Sky Blues ’ fifth minute opener from Biamou’s boot before Walker turned in a rebound to put Mark Robins’s men firmly in control at St Andrew’s with just 12 minutes on the clock.

Both strikers could have added to their tally, denied by good saves, before Leo Ostigard headed into a crowded box to give City a deserved third, 18 minutes from time.

City hit the Millers with a smash and grab opening goal from a direct three-man move following an opening spell of dominance from the visitors, who got at Coventry from the first whistle, enjoying 69 per cent of possession.

But a direct approach paid dividends when Ostigard sent the ball up to Walker, who controlled it beautifully on his chest and played it round the corner to his strike partner who took a good touch as the keeper raced out, and slotted home to give his side the lead.

And the Sky Blues doubled their lead just seven minutes later when Callum O’Hare showed quick feet in the box to get a shot away, thumping the right hand post and watching as it bounced out to the left where the alert Walker turned in the loose ball from a tight angle – a really smart ad clinical finish from the former Forest man.

United tested City with a two or three set-pieces with big men in the box getting their heads on the end of threatening deliveries but Biamou went agonisingly close to making it 3-0 when he dropped to the deck with his back to goal to get on the end of a Liam Kelly cross and send an overhead kick that looked to be heading over the line until the keeper got a touch to push it onto the post.

Biamou and Walker combined again just before the break when the Frenchman flicked on with his head to send Walker through, only to be denied by a good save by keeper Jamal Blackman.

The Millers made two changes at half-time, one forced due to wing-back Joe Mattock being stretchered off just as the players headed down the tunnel, and the other tactical as former Sky Blues skipper Richard Wood was replaced, Danile Barlaser and Matthew Olosunde the players going on.

Striker George Hirst then replaced Freddie Ladapo as United boss Paul Warne attempted to get his side back in the game in which City soaked up the second half pressure and hit their opponents on the counter attack time and time again.

City went agonisingly close to scoring again on 65 minutes when Biamou sent in a low cross from the right which Walker stretched to get a touch to but sent it the wrong side of the far post.

But the deserved third goal finally came in the 72nd minute when Ostigard got on the end of a deep Gus Hamer free-kick, sending it into the box where it went in off United striker Michael Smith.

The visitors then scored a consolation goal from the penalty spot after keeper Ben Wilson was judged to have fouled Vassell, leaving Barlaser to slam home from the spot six minutes from time.

[dutchman]

Biamou inspires Coventry to victory



Maxime Biamou starred in his first Coventry City start for more than a month as he led a dominant Sky Blues side to a deserved victory over Rotherham United.

The French striker's sixth-minute opener set Coventry on their way before he helped tee up Tyler Walker for his side's second goal soon after.

The Millers, who were second to the Sky Blues in League One last season, had not lost an away game to Coventry in more than 18 years, but they almost fell further behind when Biamou hit the post with an overhead kick after half-an hour.

Victory was sealed when Leo Ostigard saw his back-post header from a free-kick go in off the leg of a defender before Dan Barlaser scored a late penalty for the Millers after Kyle Vassell was fouled by goalkeeper Ben Wilson

The win keeps Coventry in 19th place in the Championship, four points clear of Rotherham, who are one place below them and only outside the relegation spots on goal difference.

Biamou had not made Mark Robins' starting line-up since the 3-2 loss at Watford on 7 November but he made his mark early as Walker flicked a long ball on with his chest into the French striker's path and he slid the ball under the onrushing Jamal Blackman.

A free-kick from just inside the Millers' half saw Biamou help set up the second as he won the ball on the edge of the area and fed it to Callum O'Hare, whose low shot hit the post with Walker on hand to steer the ball into the empty net from a difficult angle.

Liam Kelly's cross with the outside of his right foot saw Biamou inches away from another goal as he hit the woodwork with an acrobatic effort while Blackman did well one-on-one to keep out Walker.

Rotherham's day got worse when Joe Mattock was take off on a stretcher off in the final moments of the first half, and they found chances to break down a strong Coventry defence at a premium in the second period.

Biamou almost set up Walker for a third goal with 35 minutes to go, but the son of former England defender Des only got the edge of his boot on his low cross from the right and his effort went wide of the far post.

Ostigard did add a third goal to wrap up the home side's fourth league win of the season, with Barlaser getting the visitors on the scoresheet with five minutes remaining.