REPORT: Patchy league form continues as Sky Blues suffer home Mansfield loss - The Coventry Observer

REPORT: Patchy league form continues as Sky Blues suffer home Mansfield loss

Coventry Editorial 13th Nov, 2017   0

FOOTBALL: COVENTRY City’s patchy League Two form continued at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday as Mark Robins’ men lost 1-0 to midtable Mansfield.

A late strike from Alex MacDonald put pay to any hopes the Sky Blues had of picking up a point, though City held their sixth place position in the league table as playoff hopefuls Wycombe Wanderers also lost.

City made a bright start to the game when Jordan Ponticelli, who kept his place in the side following a brace against non-league Maidenhead last week in the FA Cup, missed the first of a handful of golden opportunities for the Sky Blues in the opening half.

Marc McNulty’s shot from range whistled wide before Mansfield eventually found their feet when Kane Hemmings’ strike went wide of Lee Burge’s post.




Burge was quickly called back into action minutes later when Alex MacDonald’s effort was tipped behind.

Danny Rose continued Mansfield’s purple patch when he struck the post mid-way through the opening half.


Coventry had a penalty turned down in the closing moments of the first half when McNulty was forced off the ball by Zander Diamond. Despite appeals, the referee waved play on as the half ended goalless.

MacDonald was presented with a good early chance for the Stags, though his ambitious strike dipped over the bar.

Though Robins’ men enjoyed more of the ball in the second half, it was Mansfield that enjoyed the greater chances.

Hemmings came close to finding the corner with a searching effort before sustained pressure told with only seven minutes remaining.

The breakthrough came when MacDonald raced through before sending a powerful strike past Burge into the corner.

A late chance for Jordan Ponticelli went begging as the Sky Blues were left to reflect on points dropped at home.

Coventry City XI: Burge (GK), Grimmer (Davies ’73), Willis, McDonald, Haynes, Kelly, Doyle, Vincenti (Biamou ’63), Jones, McNulty, Ponticelli.

Mansfield Town: Logan (GK), Bennett, Diamond (C), MacDonald, Anderson (Atkinson 82′), White, Hunt, Hamilton, Hemmings (Digby 90′), Byrom, Rose (Butcher 90′).

Attendance: 8,410 (1,565 Away).

 

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