Coventry City 0 - 0 Birmingham City
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 11:07 pm
Brilliant Hamer and Maatsen in red card derby
Coventry City had to settle for a point despite playing some dazzling football in a thoroughly entertaining Midlands derby with Birmingham.
The Sky Blues were excellent in a highly charged first half and unlucky to go in goalless at the break, largely due to goalkeeper Matija Sarkic and some stout defending from the visitors, while City felt they should have had a penalty when Viktor Gykeres appeared to be dragged down from a corner.
Mark Robins’s men continued to push for the all important breakthrough after the break when the Blues’ keeper and the visitors’ man of the match pulled off a brilliant stop to deny Matty Godden.
There was late drama when Lee Bowyer’s bruisers were reduced to ten men when Ryan Woods was sent off for a cynical last man challenge on Ian Maatsen, as Coventry continued to look the more likely to get a winner, with Gyokeres passing up a stoppage time chance for glory.
The game started at a frantic pace with Blues on the front foot and getting in City’s faces early on, slinging long throws into the box at every opportunity in a bid to unsettle the hosts in a superb derby day atmosphere.
The Sky Blue Army were in full voice from ten minutes before kick-off, urging their team on every step of the way as returning skipper Liam Kelly tried his luck in the fifth minute with the first shot of the night, albeit dragged wide across the face of goal.
There was action at both ends, with Fankaty Dabo breaking free on the right and sending in a threatening early cross that was intercepted by the keeper at the near post before Dom Hyam came to the rescue at the other end when Scott Hogan got the better of Kyle McFadzean who inadvertently chest the ball into his path.
Blues’ No.10 Riley McGree, meanwhile, fired onto the roof of the net after City cleared a deep free-kick into the box in a game that was finely balanced in an entertaining opening half.
Coventry enjoyed two corners in quick succession around the 20 minute mark and carved out some eye-catching attacks, not least when Gus Hamer intercepted the ball and played a brilliant one-two with Callum O’Hare before his piercing cross was cut out in the area.
O’Hare played a lovely back-heel to send Godden in behind, dropping his shoulder in the box and hitting an angle shot which the excellent goalkeeper Matija Sarkic dropped low to save.
Hamer turned brilliantly in the box, leaving a defender on his backside before pulling the ball back to Ian Maatsen who, despite his body shape being wrong, managed to get a shot off which was saved well by the keeper.
Gyokeres, meanwhile, appealed in vain for a penalty when dragged down by the aggressive and physical Dion Sanderson from a Coventry corner.
Robins’s men played some really entertaining football, looking exciting and dangerous with wave after wave of attacks while Blues continued to be limited to lumping long balls into the box, mainly from long throws which amounted to seven in the opening 45.
Gyokeres threatened to drive through on goal in the 54th minute, only to be fouled by Sanderson who got away with a yellow card amid called for a red from the home fans who thought the Swede had been denied a clear goal scoring opportunity.
Coventry continued to probe and press, looking for the opening goal but almost got caught out from a free-kick which Troy Deeney flicked on to strike partner Hogan, who lifted an angled shot over the bar.
A terrific three-man counter attack on the hour saw O’Hare feed Gyokeres, leaving the Swede to turn inside and play a through ball to Hamer who hit a shot with the outside of his boot straight to the keeper.
The brilliant Brazilian, however, was clattered shortly after and despite carrying on after receiving treatment, had to go off 17 minutes from time when he was replaced by Jamie Allen.
Godden, meanwhile, turned smartly on the edge of the box and hit a lovely shot to the top corner, only for Sarkic to pull off another impressive stop to deny the hoe side what would have been a deserved lead.
Blues were reduced to ten men on 81 minutes when Maatsen raced through on a counter attack and deliberately brought down by Ryan Woods who was shown a straight red card by referee Leigh Doughty
It all kicked off on the sidelines as Birmingham’s goalkeeper coach Andy Marshall - and former Sky Blues goalie - and City assistant manager Adi Viveash clashed, resulting in both being shown the yellow card.
The fourth official indicated six minutes of added time as Tyler Walker was thrown on for O’Hare in a pulsating end to the game which saw Gyokeres lift over the bar in a clear cut chance to win the game.
ATTENDANCE: 22,676 (4,068 away)