Luton Town 2 - 2 Coventry City
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2022 10:49 pm
Hamer stunner saves a day of defensive lapses
Coventry City twice battled from behind to take a hard-fought point at Luton Town as the club’s first Championship win eluded them once more.
But they only had themselves to blame as wasteful finishing and poor defending saw the home side take the lead twice in quick succession in a frantic start to the game.
City passed up a glorious chance to put themselves in front with just 50 seconds on the clock when Matty Godden sent Viktor Gyokeres clean through on goal but, with just the keeper to beat, the striker put his shot wide.
And the Sky Blues were made to pay for that profligacy just two minutes later when Town went down the other end and scored with three minutes and 25 seconds gone, sparking memories of last season’s corresponding nightmare at Kenilworth Road when City conceded in the third minute in a 5-0 thrashing.
This time it was woeful clearing rather than a penalty that resulting in them going behind, with a deep ball in from the right not contested by Fankaty Dabo before Callum Doyle played his attempted clearance straight to Carlton Morris who hooked home to give the home side the lead.
However, City didn’t crumble this time out, instead getting themselves back on level terms in the 11th minute after Ben Sheaf played a delightful ball to send Gyokeres racing past his marker, beating the defender for pace before tucking his shot past Ethan Horvath to restore confidence.
But Mark Robins’ men pressed the self destruct button for a second time when Kyle McFadzean inexplicably failed to clear despite having plenty of time and the ball fell to Harry Cornick who slipped a brilliant pass to send Morris in behind for his second.
The visitors were then dealt another blow when centre-back Michael Rose went off injured in the 27th minute, replaced by Jonathan Panzo. But they continued to enjoy good spells of possession and played some nice football in the final third, albeit struggling to break down a well organised opposition defence.
Town, meanwhile, almost extended their lead in the third minute of first half added time when Sonny Bradley headed onto the far post from a long throw into the box from the right, with City failing to deal with the ball.
The Hatters made a change at the break, sending on Elijah Adebayo for Cornick and the big front man almost scored when he got on the end of an early Town free kick but some how managed to lift it over the bar from close range in a clear let off for the Sky Blues.
Gyokeres then cut in brilliantly to the box from the left and slipped the ball to Jamie Allen who hit a first time shot that looked to be heading in until Horvath flung himself into the air and palmed it over for a corner with an impressive save.
City continued to dominate in the final third and got their rewards when Hamer took charge 25 yards out, pulling the trigger and letting fly with a powerful shot that gave the keeper no chance. The 61st minute goal was thoroughly deserved but served as a wake-up call for the home side began to get back on the offensive with a string of attacks and set pieces to make for a nervous end to the game, with some desperate 'bodies on the line' defending from the Sky Blues.
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