A CONTROVERSIAL second-half penalty denied Coventry City all three points against Derby County as the Sky Blues were held to a 1-1 draw to all but end their challenge for the play-offs.
Matty Godden finished off a sublime goal on 28 minutes after linking up superbly with Callum O’Hare only for Tom Lawrence’s soft 67th minute penalty to snatch a point for the relegation-threatened Rams at Pride Park.
And the result means Coventry sit 11th in the Sky Bet Championship table, six points outside of the play-off places although that gap could increase should Middlesbrough win their game in hand.
City started the better of the two sides when Jamie Allen’s hopeful headed reached Godden in the box as the striker stabbed an effort into the chest of Derby goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.
At the other end, Simon Moore made a good save from Lawrence’s header at the back post after the Wales international was picked out by Max Bird’s cross from the right.
However, it was the visitors who took the lead with a beautifully worked goal when O’Hare and Gooden played a pair of one-two’s which ended with the latter finding the bottom left corner from the former’s cute header.
The Sky Blues were unable to extend their advantage in the second period before Derby were awarded a penalty when referee Darren Bond deemed Ben Sheaf to have fouled Lawrence in the box despite the County man appearing to throw himself into the leg of the City midfielder.
And Lawrence picked himself up to blast the resulting spot kick high into the roof of the net to leave Moore with no chance and bring Derby level.
City had one last chance to win the game when Viktor Gyokeres was played through on goal by Godden only for the Swede to be denied by Allsop when one-on-one from the edge of the penalty area.
Coventry are next in action at home to Blackburn Rovers after the international break on Saturday, April 2 with kick-off at 3pm at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
