LIVE: Coventry City vs Bristol Rovers at the Ricoh Arena - The Coventry Observer

LIVE: Coventry City vs Bristol Rovers at the Ricoh Arena

Coventry Editorial 25th Mar, 2017 Updated: 25th Mar, 2017   0

A GORGEOUS afternoon across the land and we’re at the Ricoh Arena for this afternoon’s League One fixture against Bristol Rovers.

Hundreds of Bristol fans in the ground today – a big game for them. They’re just three points short of a playoff spot.

Coventry meanwhile are rooted to the bottom of the league, 14 points adrift from safety with just seven games remaining.

RESULT: Coventry City 1-0 Bristol Rovers




’90 – Free kick for Rovers. Everyone up, Keeper included. Chance, Clarke with a volley from 10 yards out. It’s high. It’s wide. 1-0.

STOPPAGE TIME: Four minutes of additional time. 1-0.


’86 – Coventry looking comfortable in possession. Passing the ball around well. Getting desperate for playoff chasing Bristol. 1-0.

SUBSTITUTION: Kyel Reid replaced by Chris Stokes.

GOOAALLL!! It was coming. Sky Blues take the lead and the visiting fans are completely silenced. Thomas runs into the 18 yard box and makes up for two poor errors earlier in the game. His effort beats Lumley to his right. Sky Blues 1-0 Bristol Rovers.

’77 – A smart run from George Thomas into the box. He crosses and finds Lameiras, but he’s not balanced and loses the ball. Coventry dominant in the past five minutes. 0-0.

SUBSTITUTION: Jodi Jones off, Ruben Lameiras on.

’73 – Big chance for Coventry. Reid puts a cross in. It goes over every head in the box. Once again an unmarked backpost for Rovers though. Jones in acres of space. Fires his shot high and wide, should’ve done better. 0-0.

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’68 – Awful pass from George Thomas just inside Bristol half leads to a break. Bodin finds Byron Moore on the edge of the box in miles of space somehow puts his effort wide. Had Burge beat. Bristol should have the lead here. 0-0.

Substitution: Bob Harris replaces Jonny Burn

’64 – Free kick to the Sky Blues near the corner flag as Haynes is hacked down by Leadbitter – who is shown a yellow card. Free kick results in nothing. Bristol break. Bodin has a huge chance from close. He aims his shot straight at Burge who makes the save. 0-0.

SUBSTITUTION: Jordan Willis off, Dion Kelly-Evans on.

’59 – Second Bristol Rovers corner in quick succession. Visiting fans in full voice. Feels like an away game. Rovers fans in full voice, all 4,000+ of them. 0-0.

’58 – Corner for the Sky Blues. Reilly’s cross is caught by Lumley. Bristol keeper having a good game in goal. As is Burge. 0-0.

’54 – Rovers creeping their way back into the game. Jonny Burn shoots from close range and forces a good save from Lee Burge. 0-0.

Attendance: 11,946 here this afternoon. That includes 4,096 away fans.

’51 – Another chance for City. Cross goes past everyone. George Thomas at the back post controls the ball well though and shoots. His shot is blocked. Sky Blues are pressing big time. 0-0.

’48 – Huge chance for the Sky Blues! Thomas’ corner isn’t the best but it trickles through the 18-yard box and finds Beavon. Superb save from Lumley. Follow up efforts from Reid and looked like Reilly amid a scramble in the box. Penalty appeal for handball. Consistent referee waves it off. 0-0.

Substitutions: Daniel Leadbitter and Byron Moore replace James Clarke and Rory Gaffney for Bristol Rovers at half time.

’45 – Kick off for the second half. Early chance for Bristol Rovers as Sinclair is fouled 30 yards from Burge in goal. 0-0.

HALF TIME REPORT:

IT REMAINS goalless at the Ricoh Arena despite several strong chances for the Sky Blues in a generally even game.

Bristol Rovers had two penalty shouts turned down, one for a handball following a cross, the other when Luke James was pulled down to the ground by Farrend Rawson mid-way through the opening half.

Mark Robins’ men started the first half promisingly. However Rovers soon started picking holes in the City defence as Rory Gaffney’s cross led to a strong chance from Billy Bodin, whose effort was deflected wide.

Coventry’s first shot on goal came in the 14th minute when Jodi Jones’ freekick was comfortably gathered by Rovers’ keeper Joe Lumley.

Ten minutes later and both teams had chances to take the lead within moments.

Firstly, Bristol’s Luke James had his shot blocked down one end. The block sent Jodi Jones on the counter attack, and – although his failed to provide Calum Reilly with a through ball – a poor clearance led to Reilly being presented with a clear chance from just outside the box. His shot went wide though.

A free-kick on the edge of the box for Bristol after 32 minutes was blocked on two occasions. While down the other end Stuart Beavon’s close range effort was comfortably saved.

At half time, we remain level. It’s 0-0.

HALF TIME: Coventry City 0-0 Bristol Rovers

’45 – One minute of added on time.

’41 – Strong period of play for City. Haynes crosses from the left in search of Thomas. The youngster can’t control the ball in the box though and Rovers comfortably clear. 0-0.

’37 – Jones fouled when advancing strong down the right. Free kick is delivered in. Ball pinballs around the six yard box. Beavon gets a shot off from close range but he doesn’t quite connect. 0-0.

’34 – Jones on the right plays the ball back to Reilly. Reilly thinks about putting a cross in but shoots. It’s on target, but weak. Fans applaud the attempt though. Sky Blues not afraid to shoot from distance. Something we didn’t see last week. 0-0.

’32 – Chance for Bristol Rovers with a free kick on the edge of the penalty box. Poorly taken by Brown. His free kick is blocked. Follow up chance blocked. 0-0.

’28 – Massive chance for Coventry – and Bristol. Luke James’ shot is blocked down one end, without the block Burge would’ve been doing well to make a save. The block releases Jones on the counter. He fails to pass, but a poor clearance falls to Reilly. His shot is sent inches wide, should’ve done better. 0-0.

’26 – Luke James is pulled to the ground by Rawson inside the box. Huge appeals for the visitors who wanted a penalty. Waved off. Fans furious. Looked a strong appeal. Still goalless. 0-0

’24 – Second chance for Rovers. Good build up, but a poor finish from Ollie Clarke on the edge of the area. Comfortable low save for Burge. 0-0.

’22 – Quiet few minutes. Bristol could produce nothing from a corner. Plenty of midfield play. Willis with a header from inside the box comfortably saved by Lumley. 0-0.

’16 – Chance for the Sky Blues. Beavon puts a cross in from a short corner. Willis stretches to reach the delivery but can’t get his foot around it. Chance goes. 0-0.

’14 – Free kick for Coventry is a dangerous position 20 yards out. Jones gets his effort on target but Lumley makes a relatively comfortable save. First chance on target for City. 0-0.

’11 – First  big chance of the game. Gaffney gets a cross into Bodin. Bodin’s shot is deflected and goes out for a corner – which Burge gathers. 0-0.

‘7 – Appeals for handball and a penalty from Rovers fans as a cross went in. Turned down. Ball back now back in Rovers’ half. Sky Blues searching for a goal. 0-0.

‘5 – Haynes with a searching cross from the left. Had Rovers keeper Lumley stretching but he made a safe catch. Still goalless. 0-0.

‘2 – Early pressure from the Sky Blues. A corner results in no attempt on goal, but Coventry with plenty of possession – albeit it early on. 0-0.

KICK OFF – We’re underway at the Ricoh.

3pm – A minute’s silence has just been observed to remember those tragically killed in Westminster on Wednesday.

2.56pm – Teams are out on the pitch. Huge noise coming from the Bristol end – it will feel like a home game for today’s visitors, no doubt about it. Updates coming up shortly.

2.50pm – Ten minutes from kick-off. A huge fan base have made the trip from Bristol for today’s game – fantastic support. A scattering of Coventry City fans are here. Teams out shortly.

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