Coventry City draw against Derby Country: Match report
Derby scored a late equaliser at the CBS Arena as Coventry dropped points at home for the first time this season.
Matty Godden put the Sky Blues ahead from the penalty spot in this first-half, but Graeme Shinnie struck to earn the division’s basement side a deserved point.
The hosts, without a win since October 2nd, made a bright start to the game and took the lead in the 20th minute.
Godden, returning from a two-game ban for simulation, was felled by Lee Buchanan in the area and stepped up to fire home an emphatic penalty from the spot.
Coventry dominated proceedings for the rest of the half and were unlucky not to score a second.
Rams goalkeeper Kelle Roos made a fantastic stop to deny Godden a second goal in five minutes, getting down well to tip the strikers side-footed effort around the post.
Godden was again involved in the action on 37 minutes, heading a Gustavo Hamer corner into the side netting.
HALF TIME: 1-0
Derby came out for the second half unphased by the score line and began to take the game to the hosts.
Substitutes Louie Sibley and Colin Kazim-Richards both came close to an equaliser, with Sibley firing an effort just over from range and Kazim-Richards seeing a shot hit the post.
Despite Derby’s relentless pressure, Coventry thought they had doubled their lead in the 72nd minute.
Hamer’s dipping 35-yard free kick crashed off the bar before Godden headed in the rebound, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.
The visitors kicked on from this scare and got the equaliser their efforts deserved 12 minutes from time.
The influential Kazim-Richards laid the ball on for Nathan Byrne and his deflected cross landed at the feet of Shinnie who smashed the ball home to send the away fans into raptures.
Coventry had a huge chance to win the game in added time but Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen fired his effort over the bar.
LINE UPS:
Coventry - Moore, Dabo, Hyam, McFadzean ©, Clarke-Salter, Maatsen, Hamer, Sheaf (Kelly 66’), O’Hare, Godden, Gyökeres (Walker 67’)
Derby – Roos, Byrne, Jagielka, Davies, Buchanan, Morrison, Bird, Shinnie, Ebosele (Kazim-Richards 62’), Józwiak (Sibley 54’), Lawrence ©
