JAKE Bidwell scored his first Coventry City goal as the Sky Blues began the year with a 1-1 draw against Bristol City.
Bidwell’s 12th minute header was cancelled out by Antoine Semenyo’s equaliser later in the half at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
The wing-back reacted quickest to turn home Gustavo Hamer’s cross at the back post at the second attempt after Robins goalkeeper Max O’Leary inadvertently pushed Bidwell’s initial effort back into the scorer’s path.
However, the visitors drew level on 28 minutes when Semenyo produced a clinical finish into the bottom left corner after City failed to deal with Nahki Wells’s cross.
That came after City were held to a goalless draw against Cardiff City in their final game of 2022.
Prior to that, the Sky Blues suffered a 3-1 defeat away at high-flying Sheffield United on Boxing Day with Viktor Gyokeres on target for City.
The Blades cruised into a three-goal lead courtesy of efforts from James McAtee, Ciaran Clark and Tommy Doyle before Gyokeres pulled a goal back and United defender John Egan was shown a red card.
Gyokeres saw a penalty saved by United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham early in the second half after Bidwell was fouled in the box before Clark added the home side’s second goal minutes later.
However, the Sky Blues snatched victory at the death in their last fixture before Christmas when Gyokeres scored a 93rd minute penalty in a 1-0 win against West Bromwich Albion.
The Sweden international kept his cool to send Baggies keeper Alex Palmer the wrong way after he was brought down by veteran defender Erik Pieters as he twisted and turned in the box.
And the results mean Coventry sit 14th in the Sky Bet Championship table, just four points outside of the play-off places.
The Sky Blues host Wrexham in the third round of the FA Cup this weekend with the National League club owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
City’s clash with Wrexham takes place on Saturday, January 7 with kick-off at 5.30pm at the CBS Arena.
