It was a fourth successive league defeat for Rovers, as their good play was left unrewarded once again, following a late winner by substitute Haji Wright sent Rovers back to Lancashire disappointed.
Following a result that didn’t match the Blues’ performance in their 4-1 home defeat to recently-relegated Leicester City, the fixture congestion and a need for an upturn in form saw Jon Dahl Tomasson make four changes to the midweek starting side. The first change was enforced, as Leopold Wahlstedt – who came off the bench at the weekend – made his first league start to replace the stricken Aynsley Pears. James Hill also came in for his full league debut at right-back, replacing Harry Pickering who dropped to the bench, as Callum Brittain moved over to the left. Joe Rankin-Costello and Tyrhys Dolan also entered the fray, replacing captain Lewis Travis and Arnór Sigurðsson, who were both in need of some rest, with Dominic Hyam taking the armband at his old stomping ground. There was also a return to the matchday squad for Niall Ennis who had recently returned from injury after being unavailable since the 2-1 home defeat to Hull City.
With Coventry looking for back-to-back wins for the first time this campaign and Rovers seeking their first triumph in three league games, it was the away side who started proceedings on Wednesday night after referee Jeremy Simpson’s whistle.
After seven minutes, the hosts fashioned the game’s first and second opportunities as Luis Binks saw his effort saved by Leopold Wahlstedt before Coventry recycled the ball back to Jay Dasilva whose shot from the edge of the area flew wide of the left-hand upright.
Moments later, Rovers got the ball up the other end after Tyrhys Dolan won possession back and slid through Sammie Szmodics, but the usually reliable attacking midfielder’s curling effort lacked the accuracy as it flew past the far-post.
Coventry’s leading scorer, Matt Godden tried his luck from range when the ball fell to him, but his wayward shot wasn’t troubling the Swedish shot-stopper.
In the 13th minute, Rovers won a wide free-kick after Kyle McFadzean committed a foul on the right. Adam Wharton’s short free-kick into Dilan Markanday on the edge of the area was deflected behind for a corner which was then cleared behind for a third successive set-piece. The second corner was met by the head of former Coventry man and skipper for the night, Dom Hyam, but his effort was harmlessly shepherded behind by the Sky Blue defence.
Following some good build-up play and fluid passing, Joe Rankin-Costello dropped a shoulder on the edge of the area and looked to pass the ball into the bottom right-hand corner, but he narrowly pushed the ball past the post.
Ellis Simms tried his luck in the 23rd minute, but the big money signing had two efforts blocked and deflected behind for a corner which Wahlstedt managed to punch away.
Coventry picked up the loose ball, but Andrew Moran’s tackle won the ball high up for Rovers as they countered with Dolan eventually threading Szmodics through. Rovers’ top scorer attempted to put the ball across the face of goal to cause problems, but the home defence were back enough in numbers to clear the danger.
With the ball dead, City skipper Liam Kelly was stricken and eventually forced off with Yasin Ayari replacing him.
Some close control in the Rovers box saw the ball teed up for Markanday who was bursting between the home bodies. Despite falling to the ground, Mr. Simpson waved the penalty claims away as Coventry broke up the other end.
When the home side managed to get the ball over the halfway line, they worked it out wide before it was crossed to substitute Ayari who was looking for his second consecutive CBS Arena goal, but he was denied from just inside the box.
In the 28th minute, Joe Rankin-Costello played a fantastic defence-splitting pass through to Markanday, but it didn’t slow down enough before Ben Wilson came out to claim the loose ball in his area.
After half-an-hour, a sublime chip down the channel by Callum Brittain saw Szmodics latch onto it before looking to flash it across goal, but Wilson was down quickly to remove the danger and claim the ball.
Moments later, Coventry were causing problems as another effort was blocked by the home defence.
In the 33rd minute, Rovers thought they’d taken the lead as the ball dropped to James Hill just outside the box and the Bournemouth loanee released an incredible thunderbolt that Wilson had to tip onto the crossbar. The recycled ball was soon worked back to Dolan who saw his own chance blocked.
Six minutes later, Rovers again burst forwards as Szmodics and Brittain combined, but the full-back’s low ball was cut out at the near-post.
After three minutes of added time were allocated onto the end of the first period, Jeremy Simpsons brought the entertaining opening 45 minutes to an end as both sides entered their respective dressing rooms thinking they should have been ahead.
Mark Robins’ half-time reaction would have been calm and composed. The experienced boss would have been reassuring his players of their quality and reminding them that they held the home advantage against a side that have been rather leaky in recent weeks. The home boss would have wanted more attacking fluidity from his players in the second period.
Jon Dahl Tomasson must have been wondering at the break how his side had not scored with the dominance of the ball they had had, and the chances they had created – particularly that of James Hill. The Dane would have been quick to praise his players for their first period’s performance, but also reminded them of the quality that the home side possessed and that they should remain alert, given the recent number of goals his side had conceded on the counter-attack.
With the teams back out after their team-talks, it was the home side who got the game back underway as they looked to replicate last season’s 1-0 win over Rovers and make it two home wins in a row against the East Lancashire side.
30 seconds into the second-half saw Coventry shake the upright. After Tyrhys Dolan lost possession inside his own box, the ball fell to Matt Godden who tried to find the back of the net but saw his effort bounce back into play off the woodwork, before Rovers managed to deal with the situation.
Just over three minutes into the half saw Rovers make their first change of the game as Adam Wharton was withdrawn and replaced by Sondre Tronstad.
Moments after the change, the away team were wheeling away in celebration of what they thought was the opening goal of the night after Andrew Moran bundled the ball home following a tussle between the home defenders and goalkeeper. After the Irish under-21 international managed to get the ball over the line using strength and persistence and going off to celebrate, the visitors were soon beginning an inquisition after the goal was soon disallowed prior to the restart, after Jeremy Simpson consulted his assistant with the flag as the score remained goalless after they deemed Moran had fouled Wilson.
On the hour mark, the first yellow card of the game materialised as Luis Binks was the culprit after he hauled down Dolan on halfway.
In the 64th minute, Bobby Thomas latched onto a near-post corner where a combination of Leopold Wahlstedt and the post denied Coventry the lead in the second period.
James Hill was booked in the 66th minute after he remonstrated with the referee after fouling inside the Coventry area.
Moments later, Josh Eccles was booked for a pull on Andy Moran.
Rovers made a second swap in the 68th minute as Lewis Travis was introduced for Joe Rankin-Costello, whilst Dilan Markanday made way for Arnór Sigurðsson.
Mark Robins played his cards in the 72nd minute as he made a double switch with Haji Wright and Liam Kitching replacing Ellis Simms and Luis Binks.
With 15 minutes remaining, Rovers managed to brilliantly beat the Coventry press to play out from the back as Dolan found Tronstad in the centre of the park, before the Norwegian played a sweeping ball out to Arnór Sigurðsson, who looked suspiciously offside. With the flag not up, play continued as the Icelandic attacker brought the ball down fantastically and bore down on goal before his effort went straight into the hands of Wilson.
After Moran saw a shot blocked, the visitors managed to win a corner in the 83rd minute was swung in by Szmodics and met by Hayden Carter, but the centre-back’s weak header fell comfortably for Wilson to claim.
The luck fell in Coventry’s favour as Ayari’s shot from range clattered back off the bar and Wright was the first to react as he nodded the ball past the scrambling Wahlstedt to put the home side ahead at 1-0 with little time remaining.
With desperation now the course of action for Rovers, Semir Telalović replaced Tyrhys Dolan.
As the clock ticked over to 90 minutes, Szmodics tried to curl a cross in which caught the whole defence out, but not Wilson, who was on-hand to palm the ball behind for a corner and stop it from sneaking in at the back-post, amid a penalty shout from Lewis Travis that was waved away.
Six minutes were added onto the end of the game as Rovers looked to try and pile bodies forward in the hopes of a last gasp equaliser.
In the 93rd minute, Coventry made another change as Tatsuhiro Sakamoto replaced Matt Godden.
Despite Rovers pushing for a late equaliser, they were ultimately again left wondering what might have been as Jeremy Simpson brought the game, which Rovers had the better of for the most part, to a close, signalling a fourth straight defeat for the Blues.
It’s a controversial point that we as fans will argue and debate about until we’re blue in the face. Are we unlucky, or are we ‘poor’? Despite firmly being in the former camp, we arguably need to find that Midas touch in order to turn this poor spell around. It’s equally frustrating that the goals we have conceded haven’t particularly come from poor defensive structure, but more from individual errors, with tonight’s being labelled firmly in the ‘unlucky’ column.
After that disappointing affair, Rovers are now in an unthinkable position, sitting in 20th place with 10 points and a negative goal-difference of -8.
Next up for Rovers is another away trip, with London the destination as Queens Park Rangers play hosts to Jon Dahl Tomasson’s team on Saturday 7th October at 3pm, before the second international break of the campaign. After the league resumes on the 21st October, Rovers are set to host Cardiff City for the second time this campaign at 3pm, before making a midweek trip to Millwall on Tuesday 24th October for the 7:45pm start.
