COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Shipley scores and Gyokeres denied



Coventry City gave up a goal lead to take a share of the spoils against Huddersfield Town in their penultimate game of the Championship season.

Half-time substitute Jordan Shipley scored in a much improved second half showing from the Sky Blues who conceded a poor goal from a corner 11 minutes from time.

Town dominated the first half possession and carved out a decent chance in the 14th minute when Josh Koroma was played in down the left and hit a hard and low shot that was denied by a low save from Ben Wilson.

City’s first attempt came shortly after when Callum O’Hare tried to curl a shot round the keeper Ryan Schofield who made a comfortable catch.

Wilson was called upon again on the half hour mark, dropping to his left to deny a low effort from Lewis O’Brien as the home side continued to look the more likely.

Viktor Gyokeres screamed for a penalty when he had a shot blocked by former City defender Richard Keogh who had his arms up on the stroke of half time, but the referee ignored the appeals as a fairly drab 45 minutes ended goalless.

City made a change at the break, sending on Jordan Shipley for Walker as Robins tweaked his side’s formation to counter the midfield runners.

And the visitors started with more purpose as Gyokeres hit a shot from the edge of the box that was heading for the far corner until the keeper pushed it onto the post.

And minutes later the Swede showed good strength to out-muscle two defenders and bundle his way into the area where Schofield blocked with his boot as the striker attempted to slot home.

Coventry finally got the breakthrough their vastly improved second half deserved when Gus Hamer slipped the ball into space for Shipley to shoot, the midfielder hitting a lovely left footed shot that went in off the keeper who dived to his right and saw the ball fly in to his left.

But Town were back on level terms when City failed to defend a corner ten minutes later, Wilson failing to catch the high ball into the box and sub Jack Burroughs heading only as far as Danny Ward who drilled home from eight yards at the near post.

Huddersfield Town ensured their Championship survival as they drew with Coventry City



Viktor Gyokeres twice had chances to put Coventry ahead early in the second period, but Ryan Schofield tipped one effort on to the post and saved another.

But the Sky Blues, who were much-improved after a poor first half, went ahead when Jordan Shipley's deflected shot wrong-footed Schofield.

But they were pegged back when Ben Wilson dropped a corner and failed to stop Danny Ward's shot from the follow-up.

The Terriers had an outside chance of relegation going into the game, but defeats for Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday ensured their survival.

Coventry move up to 17th place in the Championship thanks to the point having already ensured survival in their first season back in the second tier in eight years earlier this month.

The Terriers had had the better of a goalless first half as Yaya Sanogo, Josh Koroma and Richard Keogh all had decent efforts.

Coventry felt they should have had a penalty just before half time when a Gyokeres shot appeared to have been blocked by Keogh's arm.

Having seen both sides score, Callum O'Hare had a shot blocked with five minutes to go as Coventry went for the victory, while at the other end Rolando Aarons failed to make Wilson work in the final minute after being put through by fellow substitute Pipa.

Coventry City manager Mark Robins told BBC Coventry:

"We worked hard and we deserved to win it.

"The goal that we conceded was typical of what we do, it was really sloppy, and we will work hard over the summer to make sure that doesn't happen next season.

"I'm disappointed to have drawn it and not gone on to win."