The CBS Arena was the home of this week’s Sunday lunchtime kickoff from the Championship. The hosts, who sit 10th in the table, will look to follow up a 4-1 thumping of Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup on Tuesday. However, they would have to get past a struggling Millwall side who had lost four of their five in all competitions and hoped to upset the odds.
COV: Collins; van Ewijk, Latibeaudiere, Binks, Dasilva; Eccles, Torp; Sakamoto, O’Hare, Palmer; Wright
MIL: Sarkic; Tanganga, Harding, Cooper; McNamara, De Norre, Honeyman, Bryan; Flemming, Esse, Obafemi
It was a quick start to affairs at the CBS Arena, with George Honeyman’s close-range strike saved by Coventry stopper Brad Collins, and Haji Wright failing to tap the ball home on the rebound following Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s original strike being kept out by Matija Sarkic. Michael Obafemi was the next to test Collins in the Sky Blues net, but his shot was fired straight at the goalkeeper.
This was only a sign of things to come, however, for the away side as they eventually took a deserved lead. Jake Cooper won a header just past the halfway line and, as a result, it fell to Zian Flemming who made a great run down the left hand side. Flemming then cut the ball back to Romain Esse, who smashed the ball home from 12 yards out.
Embed from Getty ImagesJoe Edwards’ side could have – and should have – doubled their advantage just moments later, but Michael Obafemi’s fierce strike was kept out well by Brad Collins. Joe Bryan’s excellent shot from just inside the box flew just past the far post minutes later.
Down the other end, Victor Torp’s precise free kick saw Matija Sarkic alert and ready to simply divert the ball over the bar. Some intricate build-up from an improving Sky Blues side saw Kasey Palmer almost find the equaliser, only for Sarkic to make another terrific save to keep him out.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto could have found what was proving to be an elusive equaliser for Coventry City five minutes into the second half, but his strike was kept out well once again by Matija Sarkic.
As the second half hit the halfway mark, Haji Wright was brought down by Spurs loanee Japhet Tanganga in the box and the referee subsequently awarded the penalty kick. Wright then picked himself up off the ground and rolled the ball home from 12 yards out to bring Coventry deservedly level.
Five minutes later, the majority of the CBS Arena would be celebrating once again as the Sky Blues completed the turnaround. Callum O’Hare, who had been unusually quiet in this contest, received the ball and drove through the Millwall defence. The midfielder then played the ball to Haji Wright, who steered home his – and Coventry’s – second goal to turn the game on its head.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn a remarkable few minutes for the home side, they could have added a third through Victor Torp, whose goal bound shot was deflected over the bar by Japhet Tanganga.
Both sides are back in Championship action on Wednesday, where Mark Robins’ side face a trip to Plymouth Argyle and Millwall host a stuttering Ipswich Town – both games kick off at 7:45pm and 8pm respectively.
