Coventry City 1 - 0 Blackburn Rovers

[dutchman]

Allen strike lifts Sky Blues out of bottom three as Rovers see red



A first half Jamie Allen strike got Coventry City back to winning ways at the CBS Arena against second from top Blackburn Rovers to lift them out of the bottom three.

The Sky Blues had several chances to extend their lead in an exciting match in which Mark Robins’ men were well worth the three points in a game that ended with a late red card for visiting substitute Jake Garrett who was sent off for a foul on Callum Doyle five minutes from time.

City started brightly with Josh Eccles and Gus Hamer both sending in powerful shots on goal, albeit straight to the keeper while Viktor Gyokeres pressed high up the pitch to force errors and win back possession.

Rovers, meanwhile, went close themselves in the ninth minute when a long diagonal pass was played to Ben Brereton Diaz who cut in and hit and angled shot across the face of goal and wide of the target.

Ben Sheaf intercepted a Blackburn pass and immediately played the ball to Gyokeres who took and touch and hit a terrific shot that was denied by Thomas Kaminski, who dived to his left to make a good save. Sheaf then had a powerful effort blocked at the last second from a cleared corner that Eccles attempted to turn over the line from close range after a lovely delivery from Hamer into the six yard box.

Sheaf and Hamer dominated the midfield as Coventry enjoyed a really positive first 35 minutes before the visitors had two chances in quick succession when Callum Brittain raced through on the right and hit the side netting before Brereton Diaz got the better of Eccles and hit a shot that was covered by goalkeeper Ben Wilson at his near post.

But City got their deserved lead in the 41st minute when a lovely move resulted in Eccles sending the ball into the near post via a deflection off Brittain, and Allen raced in to finish at the near post.

Coventry started the second half as they had spent much of the first, largely in control and looking to get forward in the search of goals. But a foul by Eccles on Brereton Diaz gave the visitors a free-kick from the edge of the box, which Rovers’ leading scorer curled into the box where his effort was denied by a good save from Ben Wilson.

The visitors, as expected, started to have more of an influence on the game as they kept the ball well and set about a fight-back as Coventry started playing on the counter attack. Gyokeres sparked one exciting move when he intercepted the ball in the middle of the park and raced forward and squared the ball to Allen who hit a powerful shot that was parried away by the keeper.

City were dealt an injury blow on 70 minutes when Hamer limped off, having taken a whack earlier on, and was replaced by Kasey Palmer. Tyler Walker then went on for the tiring O’Hare before the visitors made three changes themselves for the last ten minutes when City attempted to hold on to the fragile lead.

Substitute Bradley Dack sent a glancing header just over the bar as the home side hung on. But there was a huge cheer from the home faithful in the 85th minute when another sub, Jake Garrett, was shown a straight red card for a foul on Callum Doyle, reducing Rovers to ten men.

ATTENDANCE: 16,530 (814 away).

[dutchman]

Coventry beat Blackburn to get out of bottom three



Coventry City climbed out of the Championship bottom three for the first time this season as they beat second-placed Blackburn Rovers to deny Jon Dahl Tomasson's side the chance of top spot.

Jamie Allen struck the only goal of the game on 42 minutes with a well-taken right-foot shot from close range.

After City looked good value for their half-time lead, Rovers were a little more of a threat after the break.

But any hopes of a point vanished when midfielder Jake Garrett was sent off for a challenge on Callum Doyle 11 minutes from time.

In a game that was almost called off following ongoing concerns over their home ground at the CBS Arena, after the financial situation affecting landlords Wasps and stadium operators Arena Coventry Ltd, Mark Robins' side ended up with a fourth win in six games.

But it was revealed after the game by BBC CWR that CBS Arena operating companies ACL and ACL (2006) have now applied to enter administration.

After visiting Watford this Saturday, City have two more home games next week, against Wigan Athletic and QPR, as they continue to catch up on the fixtures lost due to their pitch problems at the start of the season.

But they face continued uncertainty as to where their next few home games will be played, now that their rented home has gone into administration.

Rovers had needed to win to overtake local rivals Burnley on top, but they were always second best to a fired-up City side finally making strides up the Championship table following their bizarre start to the season.

Ben Sheaf had already gone close with a powerful shot blocked in a scramble before City rubber-stamped their first-half dominance by going ahead.

Callum O'Hare shifted the ball wide, Josh Eccles squared over a low cross and midfielder Allen, substituting as skipper for virus-hit Kyle McFadzean, got in first to turn home right-footed from the corner of the six-yard box for his second goal in four games.

Subdued Rovers rarely looked like turning it round - and their task became harder after youngster Garrett, making only his third Championship appearance, was handed a perhaps harsh 85th-minute red card by referee Tim Robinson for his challenge on Doyle.

Blackburn, who could drop out of the top two if QPR win at Norwich on Wednesday night, are also scheduled to be back in action this Saturday, when they host Huddersfield Town.

Coventry City boss Mark Robins told BBC CWR:

"Considering the illness we've had, to show the energy and desire we did was amazing. We looked as good as we've been for a long time.

"Saturday was such a real low for me but this was a real tonic. There were some really good performances throughout the side.

"You don't like to see people sent off but, if Callum Doyle hadn't pulled out of that challenge, he might have ended up with serious injury.

"Let's hope the ground situation gets sorted out for the best. Hopefully we'll be here now until the World Cup break and then, while we don't have to play here, it gives them time to sort things out."