Sky Blues boss Tony Mowbray left frustrated after Burton Albion defeat - The Coventry Observer

Sky Blues boss Tony Mowbray left frustrated after Burton Albion defeat

Coventry Editorial 18th Jan, 2016 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

SKY Blues boss Tony Mowbray insists his side have to move on quickly after tasting defeat for the first time at home in the league this season.

An impressive run of 13 games undefeated at the Ricoh Arena came to an end on Saturday after Nigel Clough’s high-flying Burton Albion claimed a 2-0 victory.

Two second half goals from Calum Butcher and Stuart Beavon allowed Burton to maintain their place at the top of League One and they now sit six points ahead of fourth-paced City with a game in hand.

“It is difficult for us to take,” said Mowbray. “We knew it would be a stuffy game, it was not going to be free flowing football from both teams.




“We said at half time if there was to be a mistake to decide the game it must not be ours but it did not go our way.

“It was one of those frustrating games. Every shot seemed to be straight at the goalkeeper, they got behind the ball after their first goal and used the counter attack.


“But well done to them, they were efficient on the counter attack. It is now time for us to very quickly move on and focus on the next game.

“We weren’t outplayed, but the game is over and we have to move on. There are still positives upon reflection. It is only two defeats in 18 games and it is important to get back to winning ways.”

After a fairly even start with both sides understandibly playing with an air of caution, it was the hosts who came within a whisker of taking of the lead in the 20th minute.

Adam Armstrong did well to get to the byline down the left and he pulled the ball back across the face of goal but Jacob Murphy could not get a touch in front of goal.

Before the half-hour mark teenager James Maddison forced Jon McLaughlin into two smart saves, the first from a free kick and the second saw the Burton goalkeeper do well to tip the City midfielder’s powerful shot over the bar.

At the other end the visitors had their chances too, with Riece Charles-Cook producing a fine one-handed save to deny Tom Naylor.

Four minutes after the break it was Burton who opened the scoring when Aaron Phillips made a mistake by chesting the ball straight to Calum Butcher inside the area and he volleyed the ball into the back of the net.

Soon after Stuart Beavon struck the crossbar as the visitors pushed for a second while at the same time limiting the Sky Blues to only half chances.

Maddison dragged a shot inches wide while midfielder Romain Vincelot sent a header whistling past McLaughlin’s left-hand post.

With 18 minutes remaining the task was made all the more harder for the hosts after Beavon controlled a long ball excellently inside the area and beat Charles-Cook with a powerful finish.

The hosts rallied to find an equalier with Joe Cole being introduced late on but Mowbray’s side failed to test McLaughlin again as they fell to their first home league defeat of the season.

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