Coventry City 0 - 3 AFC Bournemouth

[dutchman]

Sky Blues punished by clinical Cherries



Coventry City's hopes of gatecrashing the Championship's top six are hanging by a thread following a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at the CBS Arena.

Jamal Lowe opened the scoring inside 12 minutes before Dominic Solanke netted two more either side of half time for Scott Parker's automatic promotion hopefuls. And without response from Coventry, those goals condemned the Sky Blues to their second defeat in four home matches.

City started the day just three points outside of the play-offs, but could find themselves six points away from the top six at the end of the day. With only three games left to play this season, it will be a tall order for Mark Robins' men to secure a ticket to the play-offs this term.

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Coventry came into this one having only won two of their last 12 league games against Bournemouth, with the last of those coming in 2013, nine years ago. And the omens were against boss Mark Robins too, with the Sky Blues manager winless in his last five against the Cherries too.

Yet the form guide was on Coventry's side, with the City aiding their promotion bid in recent weeks after losing just once in five and beating Birmingham City and Premier League-bound Fulham in their last two. Scott Parker's side in comparison had stumbled in their quest to ensure automatic promotion back to the top-flight.

Without scoring a goal in their last three, Coventry might have expected the Cherries to start on the back foot at the CBS Arena and so they did. Lively striker Viktor Gyökeres had the first opportunity of the game to break the deadlock as he raced clear of Lloyd Kelly down the right-hand side of the penalty box.

Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers was on hand to get a fingertip to the Swede's effort, which whistled past the far post. That early chance in the sixth minute set the tone for the first quarter of an hour, but Parker's side proved their credentials to gain promotion this term by opening the scoring out of nothing.

Against the run of play, Jaidon Anthony and Adam Smith combined to work an angle down the left channel to where full-back Smith was allowed to pick out Lowe inside the Coventry box. His header crashed off the underside of the crossbar and bounced over the line to hand the visitors an important advantage.

Robins' side reacted well to going a goal down, but struggled to carve out an opportunity to test Travers in the Cherries' goal until 10 minutes before the interval. Gustavo Hamer played in Callum O'Hare inside the box, and after the former Aston Villa man picked up a nice position in the box, his shot on goal lacked conviction and was easily blocked by Travers.

Gyökeres then came closer still, as his header was well saved by the Bournemouth goalkeeper after Jake Bidwell picked out the striker with a brilliant cross from the left flank. But the hosts were made to pay for not taking their chances once more before half time.

Ex-Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke shrugged off his markers in the box and fired an effort towards goal which deflected over 'keeper Simon Moore to double Bournemouth's advantage in first half additional time. The second period started just like the first had ended, with Bournemouth happy to sit off and take their chances when they arrived.

And that's exactly what Solanke did on the 55th minute as he raced clear of Coventry's defenders at an angle and drilled the ball across Moore to find the bottom corner with aplomb. Coventry's race was run at this point to add to their historical Easter Monday woes.

Coventry have now won just one of their last 17 league matches on Easter Monday, while in contrast, opponents Bournemouth were unbeaten on their last seven league games on Easter Monday coming into this one. So even if Coventry are targeting their highest league finish this season since 2001, Robins' team were bound to slip up on today of all days.

[dutchman]

Promotion-chasing Bournemouth ease past Coventry



Dominic Solanke scored twice as a clinical Bournemouth beat play-off chasing Coventry to strengthen their grip on second place in the Championship.

The Cherries had failed to win or score in their past three games but showed a ruthless edge to overcome their recent wobble and stay in prime position to claim automatic promotion to the Premier League.

The visitors led when Jamal Lowe adjusted brilliantly to power in a header off the underside of the bar, from an Adam Smith cross which was slightly behind him, with Solanke making it 2-0 with a deflected shot which wrongfooted Sky Blues keeper Simon Moore.

Bournemouth maintained a tactically-astute, counter-attacking style after the break and snatched a third thanks to a precise low finish from former Liverpool striker Solanke, his 27th league goal of the season.

The result leaves Scott Parker's side four points ahead of third-placed Huddersfield, who have played two matches more and have only three games to play, while Nottingham Forest are 10 points adrift with a game in hand on the Cherries.

Coventry, meanwhile, remain three points from the final play-off spot before Sheffield United's trip to Bristol City but drop to 11th and are running out of matches to climb into the top six.

It was a smash and grab first half for Bournemouth, who scored from all their three shots on target in the game, with Mark Travers saving well from Viktor Gyokeres and Callum O'Hare to keep the dominant home side out.

Bournemouth pragmatically switched to five at the back after the break and took the wind out of Sky Blues' sails with the third goal, and once-capped England man Solanke missed the chance to seal a hat-trick late on as he shot over when through on goal.

Martyn Waghorn went closest for Coventry after the break, his half-volley excellently stopped by Travers, but it is now just one win in six home games for Mark Robins' side.

Coventry manager Mark Robins:

"We started off brightly and created chances that we didn't take. They stuck their first chance in and then stuck their second chance in and it was game over.

"When you're playing against top teams, you have to take your chances when they are presented to you. If you don't and they take their first two, then it changes their mentality and belief systems.

"The supporters aren't as anxious either and, with players like they have, if you give them a sniff, they grow in confidence and we have no divine right to win football matches because we've created more chances.

"They were in the Premier League a couple of seasons ago and look like they will be going back there."