Coventry City 1 - 1 Norwich City

[dutchman]

Gibson own-goal costs Norwich win at Coventry



Norwich City missed out on a second away win of the season as Ben Gibson's 88th-minute own-goal handed Coventry City a point.

Jonathan Lowe steered the ball home from Jack Stacey's cross in the 40th minute to give the Canaries the lead in an open contest with plenty of attacking endeavour from both sides.

The Sky Blues had the majority of the goal attempts, with US striker Haji Wright prominent, but Norwich's willingness to throw bodies in front of the ball kept them at bay.

Angus Gunn twice saved from Josh Eccles but, with time running out, the Norwich keeper could do nothing as Gibson turned Milan van Ewijk's cross into the net.

Coventry gave defender Liam Kitching his first start following his transfer-window move from Barnsley, while Yasin Ayari came into midfield in place of Liam Kelly, ruled out by a hamstring tear.

But it was Norwich who started on the front foot after a poor clearance by home keeper Ben Wilson was intercepted by Rowe, whose chip was just too high.

Wilson redeemed himself with a good save after Adam Idah cut inside his marker and Coventry gradually asserted themselves in the attacking third with Wright crowded out by the Norwich defence and Kyle McFadzean seeing a shot from outside the box kept out by Gunn.

The Canaries keeper also had to save a goalbound header by Kitching but they went ahead after Liam Gibbs won the ball before backheeling to Stacey, whose ball into the box found Rowe in the right place, but Ellis Simms could have levelled before the break, only to head over from close range.

Having only managed two points from their six previous league meetings with Norwich, Coventry continued to press forward after an ambitious 35-yard effort from Ayari flew wide early in the second half.

They had 20 goal attempts during the game but, having won their last two games, it looked like they were heading for defeat until Gibson's own-goal came to their rescue.

Coventry remain 13th in the Championship following the draw, while Norwich moved up a place to seventh ahead of a tasty home fixture against Leeds United on 21 October following the international break.

Coventry defender Liam Kitching told BBC CWR:

"I thought we had a few good chances towards the end and maybe could have snuck all three points, but it's been a great week, seven points and some tough tests.

"At half-time, the manager just said 'keep doing what you're doing and the chances will come' because there was good football in the first half.

"You just need to grind teams down, keep moving the ball and it was a great cross from Milan [for the goal], that's what happens when you put the ball into those areas.

"It's always hard to defend those balls, so I know how he [Ben Gibson] feels but it got us a point, so I'm happy with that."