Coventry City 0 - 1 Burnley
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2022 5:58 pm
Second half fight-back not enough as Sky Blues sunk by Clarets
Coventry City slipped to their fifth Championship defeat of the season on a difficult afternoon at the CBS Arena against a dominant Burnley side.
Nathan Tella scored the only goal of the game six minutes before the break, after which the Sky Blues attempted a determined fight-back but couldn’t find a way through the Clarets’ well-organised defence in a game in which they failed to hit a single attempt on target.
Vincent Kompany’s men took the game to Coventry, as predicted, from the first whistle, enjoying plenty of possession – over 60 percent overall – in the attacking third but the Sky Blues worked incredibly hard to close them down and win the ball back and ask questions themselves.
Josh Cullen wasted an early free shot on goal for the visitors who enjoyed a string or early corners to maintain the early pressure on the home side who were forced to play largely on the counter attack.
City’s first real threatening opportunity didn’t come until the 36th minute when Fankaty Dabo attempted to play Tyler Walker in on goal, only for the striker to stretch but fail to connect with the pass.
But Vincent Kompany’s men got the goal that they’d been threatening in the 39th minute when Cullen picked out Nathan Tella on the right and the forward controlled brilliantly before clipping the ball over the keeper and in off the far post to give Burnley the lead.
Jonathan Panzo went agonisingly close to equalising from a 45th minute Palmer corner but his header powered off the crossbar to ensure City trailed at the break.
The Clarets continued to control the game as the second half got underway and created another opportunity when Vitinho played Jay Rodriguez in behind, only for the striker to shoot into the side netting.
Mark Robins made four changes on the hour, sending on Matty Godden, Fabio Tavares, Josh Eccles and Michael Rose for Walker, Palmer, McFadzean and Doyle as City switched to a 4-3-3 to match their opponents. City’s Plan B proved really effective as Coventry suddenly played on the front foot and piled on the pressure as they went in search of an equaliser.
But the Clarets stood firm and held out for the full three points as the Sky Blues lacked the quality and know-how to find clear cut opportunities to score.
ATTENDANCE: 19,445 (1,953 away).