Coventry City 1 - 1 Luton Town

[dutchman]

Godden strike sees Coventry share points with Luton



Matt Godden's first goal since August earned 10-man Coventry a point and halted Luton's winning run.

The Hatters went ahead inside the opening minute when defender Tom Lockyer tapped home.

But Godden equalised with a penalty after Viktor Gyokeres was brought down by Gabriel Osho just before half-time.

Both sides had chances to win it after the break, with Sky Blues midfielder Josh Wilson-Esbrand red-carded late on for a foul on Fred Onyedinma.

Coventry were forced to reshuffle their line-up just before kick-off, when midfielder Ben Sheaf suffered a calf injury in the warm-up, with Kasey Palmer given a starting role in his place.

The late change may have contributed to a disorganised start which saw Luton take the lead after only 40 seconds with Alfie Doughty wriggling free on the right to deliver a cross that was only half-cleared, allowing Lockyer to steer home from close-range.

However, it was the Sky Blues who created the better opportunities during the remainder of the first period, with their top scorer Gyokeres forcing a fingertip save from Luton goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, while Palmer manufactured a chance for himself, only to fire off-target.

But Coventry levelled just before the interval through Godden's spot-kick after referee Steve Martin ruled that Osho had fouled Gyokeres.

Palmer almost put his side ahead soon after the restart with an attempt that looped over Horvath but struck the crossbar.

The Luton goalkeeper also denied Gyokeres and Luke McNally, while the visitors - who had won six of their last seven games - almost snatched a winner through substitute Cauley Woodrow, but he was foiled by an impressive double save from Ben Wilson.

Coventry finished the game with 10 men after Wilson-Esbrand, on loan from Manchester City, was dismissed five minutes from time.

The draw means both sides' league positions remain unchanged, with Luton fourth and Coventry 15th.

Coventry manager Mark Robins told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire:

"It was a really hard-fought point, but nothing short of what we deserved. I thought we were pretty good after the start we had.

"We lost Ben Sheaf in the warm-up and that really hurt us. Having to make a lot of adjustments minutes before we got out really contributed to the first goal because we looked a bit messed-up.

"The goal was poor but the good thing about it was the character they showed to get back in it - that was really important.

"We've not caved and we got a bit of confidence in the second half. We've looked dangerous and looked like we could hurt them."

[dutchman]

Godden and Wilson to the rescue as 10 man Sky Blues earn point



A Matty Godden penalty rescued a point for Coventry City after the home side gave Luton Town a head start at the CBS Arena.

City suffered a personnel blow before kick-off and a goal setback 38 seconds into the game as the Hatters took full advantage of poor defending from a throw-in.

Robins was forced to make a change to his teamsheet when Ben Sheaf picked up an injury in the warm-up, resulting in Kasey Palmer going into the starting line-up and Jack Burroughs called up to the bench. And the Sky Blues found themselves behind within seconds when they conceded a throw-in on the right flank and failed to deal with the second phase cross which took a deflection before falling to centre-back Tom Lockyer to steer home in the six-yard box amid appeals for off-side.

Viktor Gyokeres went agonisingly close to restoring parity in the 11th minute when he pulled wide of two players in the box and hit and angled shot which was denied by a good save by goalkeeper Ethan Horvath who flung himself to his left to push over the bar for a corner.

City then got themselves back on level terms just before the break when Gyokeres was brought down by Gabriel Osho in the box – the centre-back getting away with a yellow card as Coventry players called for a red – before Godden stepped up to confidently blast the equaliser home.

Coventry pushed for a second half the break with Palmer clipping the bar and Gyokeres being denied by a last ditch block as the visitors were forced to play on the counter attack.

But the Sky Blues had goalkeeper Ben Wilson to thank in the 76th minute when he pulled off a brilliant one-handed save to deny Cauley Woodrow giving the Hatters the lead against the run of play.

Wilson-Esbrand was then sent off in the 85th minute for a second yellow card as City ended the game with ten men.