Blackpool 1 - 4 Coventry City
Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2023 6:28 pm
Sheaf, Fadz and Godden party at the seaside
Coventry City got themselves back in the play-off hunt with a comprehensive 4-1 victory at Blackpool that extended their outstanding unbeaten run to nine games.
Buoyed by a magnificent Sky Blue Army that numbered almost 4,000, Ben Sheaf gave the visitors an early lead before the Seasiders pulled level from the penalty spot. But a Curtis Nelson own goal restored Coventry’s lead before the break and Kyle McFadzean extended the advantage with a brilliant finish five minutes into the second period.
Matty Godden then wrapped things up from the bench with a fourth in the 73rd minute as the fans partied in the stands.
Mick McCarthy’s men went into the game off the back of a 6-1 thrashing of QPR in the week and created the first chance of the game when CJ Hamilton hit the foot of the post as early as the third minute, but the Seasiders suffered a blow in the sixth when centre-back Jordan Thornily got injured and had to go off, replaced by Kenny Dougall.
City then took the lead in the 20th minute when Gus Hamer fed Viktor Gyokeres who, in turn, pulled the ball back for Sheaf in space to hit a lovely shot past the goalkeeper from 25 yards out.
Coventry, however, only had themselves to blame for letting Blackpool back in the game when McFadzean stepped across to intercept Morgan Rogers in the box and tripped the forward who immediately went down to earn a 34th minute penalty, leaving Jerry Yates to slot home to level the scores at 1-1.
But the Sky Blues restored their lead in first half stoppage time when Curtis Nelson headed into his own net, under pressure from McFadzean, from a curling corner from Hamer. And McFadzean extended the lead to 3-1 five minutes into the second half when he thumped home a loose ball from a cleared Hamer free-kick.
Hamer then won possession high up the pitch and fed substitute Godden who hit an angled finish to beat the keeper and score City’s fourth of the afternoon to complete a brilliant weekend for the travelling faithful.