Coventry City 4 - 1 Fulham

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Coventry City 4 - 1 Fulham

Postby dutchman » Sat Oct 02, 2021 3:17 pm

Sensational fight-back as Fulham thumped

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Three goals in the space of 14 second half minutes saw Coventry City come from behind to beat promotion favourites Fulham and make it six wins out of six at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Although the Sky Blues fell behind to a Kyle McFadzean own goal early in the first half, they launched a sensational fight-back in front of the Sky cameras to blow away their high flying opponents.

In a fitting display on Jimmy Hill Day, Mark Robins’s men pulled level on 47 minutes from a cool finish from Viktor Gyokeres and were ahead four minutes later when Matty Godden was brought down in the box and stepped up to slot home from the penalty spot.

Ian Maatsen then added a third just after the hour before Gyokeres got a second to extend the lead to 4-1 with 20 minutes left to play.

Fulham played keep ball for the first few minutes, knocking it about and building from the back before getting their first cross into the box where Harry Wilson headed high and wide with the opening chance of the game.

But City forced early pressure of their own from three corners in quick succession and a stack of shots that the Cottagers blocked time and time again in and around the box.

The visitors then took the early lead from their own set-piece when McFadzean beat danger man Aleksandar Mitrovic to the ball but inadvertently headed past his own keeper at the near post to hand Fulham an 18th minute advantage, and spoil what had been a promising start to the game.

Replays showed the defender appeared to have been fouled seconds before.

Coventry continued to plug away at trying to break down their fit and well organised Premier League quality opponents and had goalkeeper Simon Moore to thank on 40 minutes when dived to his right to deny Bobby Decordova-Reid from 25 yards.

A swift counter attack resulted in Maatsen being played into space but his shot from distance was blocked by the out-stretched foot of Debis Odoi in an entertaining game.

The game turned on its head after the break when Godden nicked the ball off a defender as Fulham attempted to play out from the back. The striker’s touch fell to Callum O’Hare who pushed into the box and played a square ball to Gyokeres who coolly slotted home the equaliser two minutes into the restart.

Godden was then fouled in the box by Antonee Robinson and stepped up to slot past Gazzaniga in goal, sending the keeper the wrong way to give City a 51st minute lead.

Ten minutes later and City extended their brilliant lead with a screamer of a left foot shot from Ian Maatsen to send the CBS Arena into full party mode.

City were not finished there and Gyokeres bagged a second on 70 minutes when Godden picked him out to the left of goal and, under pressure from a covering defender, stretched to send the ball the wrong side of the stranded keeper.

The Swede was then denied a hat-trick when Gazzaniga got a hand to push his shot wide of his far post as the Sky Blues went looking for a fifth on another brilliant game at the CBS Arena.

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Re: Coventry City 4 - 1 Fulham

Postby dutchman » Sat Oct 02, 2021 3:51 pm

Coventry bounce back to hammer Fulham

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Coventry City produced a stunning second-half fightback to beat Fulham and put their 5-0 midweek routing at Luton behind them.

Mark Robins' rampant Sky Blues went in at half-time 1-0 down after Kyle McFadzean's own goal was allowed to stand despite appearing to be fouled by Aleksandar Mitrovic.

But City turned it round to keep up their 100% home record with a sixth straight win at the Coventry Building Society Arena and hand Fulham their worst league defeat since May 2019.

Viktor Gyokeres equalised straight after the break, the first of three City goals in just 14 minutes, before he wrapped up victory with their fourth - and his second - 20 minutes from time.

In between, Matt Godden also scored from an contentiously-awarded 51st-minute penalty after he had gone down without appearing to be touched by Antonee Robinson.

And on-loan Chelsea midfielder Ian Maatsen scored the goal of the game on 61 minutes.

He lashed home a superbly struck left-foot shot after Fankaty Dabo's right-wing cross had found its way to Maatsen in space in the left corner of the box.

Gyokeres has now hit nine goals for City this season, one behind Championship top scorer Mitrovic, having now hit a brace in each of his last two home games.

But it did not look it would be another happy day for the Swede when the Sky Blues, without suspended Gustavo Hamer and Covid-hit Martyn Waghorn, trailed at the break.

They had a right to feel aggrieved to be behind on 18 minutes as Mitrovic appeared to grab hold of McFadzean at a corner by the neck, unbalancing the City skipper as he headed into his own net from eight yards.

But Bobby Reid made Coventry keeper Simon Moore go full length to save his right-foot shot - and Fulham's pace and slickness on the wet surface made them look more of a threat.

Robins' half-time team talk did the trick in triggering a turnaround.

After Alfie Mawson and the recalled Josh Onomah were caught dawdling on the edge of the box on 47 minutes, Callum O'Hare nipped into tee up Gyokeres to find an unguarded net.

Then, four minutes later, Godden was adjudged to have been fouled but stepped up to send Paulo Gazzaniga the wrong way from the spot.

Maatsen's stunning first goal for the club sent the stadium further into raptures before Swedish striker Gyokeres put the icing on the cake - and he would have had a hat-trick but for brilliant save by Gazzaniga to his left.

Coventry, who go level on points with morning leaders West Bromwich Albion and Bournemouth, are now without a game until 16 October, because of the latest international break.

They then visit former Sky Blues boss Tony Mowbray's Blackburn, while Fulham have another lunchtime kick-off that day, at home to QPR.

Coventry City boss Mark Robins:

"I said believe. It's just about belief. Knowing that they were getting in good positions, but also having the belief, the vision and ability to do what we want to do, which was move the ball really quickly and shift them.

"We know where we could exploit and we did that by quick movement, good vision, good execution of passes and a willingness to press and get all over them.

"On the back of the other night it could have easily gone the other way but also I know how good they are. We've got to give Luton credit. We learnt a lot from the other night, it was a slap in the face and a kick up the backside, but we responded really well."

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