Coventry City 1 - 0 Cardiff City

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Coventry City 1 - 0 Cardiff City

Postby dutchman » Wed Sep 15, 2021 11:35 pm

The Sky Blues extended their 100 per cent record at the CBS Arena with a brilliant performance against the Bluebirds

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Viktor Gyokeres scored his fourth goal of the season to hand Coventry City their fourth consecutive Championship victory at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

The Sky Blues centre-forward showed great strength to give two defenders the slip before hitting a brilliant early finish to beat the Cardiff City keeper early in the first half of an outstanding team performance.

The only dampener on the night was a late straight red card for Fankaty Dabo for a lunge on Marlon Pack.

The game started at a frantic pace with end to end action, Cardiff enjoying the benefit of some long throws and an early corner into the box while the Sky Blues looked sharp going forward, attacking at pace and with plenty of intricate passages of play.

Simon Moore got a firm hand to deny a close range header from big Bluebirds’ danger man Kieffer Moore early on while Gus Hamer slammed a free-kick into the wall from the edge of the box at the other end.

But Coventry grabbed the early lead when Jamie Allen raced upfield with the ball after City had dealt with another Cardiff throw-in in their own half, the midfielder slipping it inside to Callum O’Hare who sent a superb through ball for Gyokeres.

The big Swedish striker showed great strength to squeeze between two defenders and hit his shot early and low to the bottom corner to beat Dillon Phillips with a brilliant finish on 15 minutes.

The goal sparked a determined spell of pressure from the big and physical visitors who continued to throw long balls into the box to test City’s defensive resolve.

Chances were few and far between form Robins’s men to the break when they enjoyed a decent corner, from which defender Dom Hyam stretched to get his head on the end, albeit unable to direct it on target.

The second half started the same as the first, at a high tempo and with both sides going at it in search of goals and with Waghorn teeing up O’Hare for an early chance, only for the midfielder’s shot to be denied by a decent save.

Cardiff’s best chance of the game so far came on 52 minutes when Joel Bagan got on the end of a cross into the box but headed over the bar.

The Sky Blues continued to push for a second while hanging onto their slender lead. And despite Cardiff not creating too many openings or clear cut chances, the home side still looked vulnerable at times when defending balls into the box.

Robins made his first change of the evening when he replaced wing-back Ian Maatsen with deadline day signing Todd Kane midway through the second period, and the former QPR man earned himself an early booking for a tasty foul within minutes of being on the field.

Coventry-born James Collins, meanwhile, whom Robins tried to sign in the summer, missed a sitter when he had all the goal to aim at from an Perry Ng centre but headed over.

City continued to push for a second goal, urged on every step of the way by the fans who were in superb voice in another terrific atmosphere at the CBS Arena, willing their team on.

The home side saw out a nerve shredding final three minutes of added time during which Dabo was sent off for a tackle on Pack deep in Coventry's the final third when they were on the attack.

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Re: Coventry City 1 - 0 Cardiff City

Postby dutchman » Wed Sep 15, 2021 11:38 pm

Gyokeres helps Coventry see off Cardiff

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Coventry City moved into the Championship play-off places with a comfortable win over Cardiff City at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Sky Blues' top scorer Viktor Gyokeres scored his fourth of the season 15 minutes in, curling a low effort past Dillon Phillips into the bottom corner.

The hosts should have been further ahead and dominated throughout, Callum O'Hare, Dom Hyam and Kyle McFadzean all putting efforts wide.

Substitute James Collins headed Cardiff's only clear-cut opportunity off target late in the second half after wing-back Perry Ng's pinpoint cross.

Gyokeres almost bagged a second late on, but Coventry comfortably saw out the closing stages and remain unbeaten at home in the Championship this season.

Coventry ended with 10 men when Fankaty Dabo saw a late red card for a dangerous challenge on Marlon Pack, but despite the man advantage and throwing everyone forward in the final seconds the Bluebirds were still unable to test Simon Moore.

After a couple of half-chances for Kieffer Moore early on, Coventry were presented with the game's first real opportunity when Martin Waghorn was fouled off the ball in a counter-attack just outside the Cardiff area.

Gustavo Hamer's effort was blocked by the wall, as was the rebound, but Cardiff failed to heed the warning of Coventry's quick early breaks.

And it was from a similar counter-attack that Coventry took the lead 15 minutes in, when Gyokeres was played through by Jamie Allen.

Despite the attention of Curtis Nelson and Joel Bagan, the Sweden international curled his effort low past Phillips.

Coventry almost doubled their lead 10 minutes later, Cardiff failing to press as a team and leaving space in behind for Callum O'Hare, whose eventual shot was blocked by Nelson.

The first-half chances continued to come for the hosts, Hyam heading Waghorn's corner over before Kyle McFadzean did the same from a dangerous Hamer free-kick.

Unimpressed with the first-half performance, James Collins and Sam Bowen were brought on at the start of the second half by Cardiff boss Mick McCarthy, replacing Mark Harris and Sunday's hero Rubin Colwill.

Despite the changes it was the hosts that continued to dominate proceedings, O'Hare seeing his strike saved by Phillips after Waghorn elected not to take it on himself.

The Bluebirds' first chance of the second half came moments later as Ng crossed from one wing-back to another, but Joel Bagan could not keep his headed effort down.

That attempt was a rare one for the visitors as Waghorn and Gyokeres, supported by O'Hare and Hamer, caused the Cardiff back five problems all evening.

But with 15 minutes remaining the visitors were gifted a golden opportunity, Ng seemed fortunate not to concede a foul before crossing for substitute Collins, who unmarked four yards out could not put his header on target.

Gyokeres missed the chance to put the result beyond doubt when he was again put through one-on-one against Phillips with 10 minutes remaining, but this time the Cardiff goalkeeper came off his line to prevent a second.

The only stain on a brilliant Coventry performance was the red card in time added on for Dabo, who needlessly put a dangerous challenge on Pack with the ball deep in Cardiff territory.

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