Coventry City 1 - 1 Bristol City
Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 6:30 pm
Sky Blues give up lead amid more frustration up front
Coventry City had to settle for a New Year’s Day point after giving up an early lead against Bristol City at the CBS Arena.
The Sky Blues started the first half brightly and took a deserved lead from the head of Jake Bidwell, but the Robins pulled level just before the half hour mark and could have taken the lead before the break in a wide open game.
City regained the initiative after the break but struggled to find the quality to bag the all-important second goal to secure a win.
The home side got off to a really positive start and could have been in front as early as the third minute when Kasey Palmer played Martyn Waghorn through in the box, only for the goalkeeper to deny the striker’s left-footed effort.
The Sky Blues then took a deserved lead with a brilliantly worked goal that started from a long ball up to Gyokeres, who played a lovely exchange with Gus Hamer who sent in a low cross to the six-yard box which Waghorn connected with to force Max O’Leary into a good save, only for Jake Bidwell to nod home the loose ball as it hung tantalisingly at shoulder height from two yards out.
Coventry had Bristol’s poor finishing to thank minutes later when Nahki Wells headed wide from close range as the visitors enjoyed a bit of set-piece pressure with four corners in quick succession as they pushed for a quick equaliser.
And that leveller finally came in the 28th minute when City failed to clear a ball in from the left which was turned home by Antoine Semenyo from close range to make it 1-1.
Mark Robins’ men started the second half as they had the first, with plenty of attacking endeavour sparked by the excellent Palmer who played Gyokeres in twice in quick succession, only for the striker to be denied by some last ditch defending. The manager then made three changes just after the hour with Fabio Tavares, Fankaty Dabo and Ben Sheaf going on for Waghorn, Kane and Palmer in a bid to find a winning goal. But although there was plenty of effort, City simply couldn't find the quality to find the back of the net.