Tony Mowbray refuses to blame John Fleck after Doncaster draw - The Coventry Observer

Tony Mowbray refuses to blame John Fleck after Doncaster draw

Coventry Editorial 29th Nov, 2015 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

TONY Mowbray is refusing to point the finger of blame at John Fleck after the City midfielder’s mistake allowed Doncaster to come away from the Ricoh Arena with a point following an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Twice the Sky Blues led in the match on Saturday thanks to Adam Armstrong’s 13th goal of the season and Fleck also scored with a superb long range effort.

But a brace from Nathan Tyson, including a gift for his second with Fleck giving away possession cheaply on the edge of the area, ensured the visitors came away from the Ricoh Arena with a share of the spoils.

“It’s unusual for John to make an error like that but that happens,” said Mowbray, whose side extended their unbeaten run to 11, which is the club’s best run of form since 1967.




“It’s just a loss in concentration really because technically, he is very gifted.

“He could have done a host of things at the time as he wasn’t under that much pressure, but it didn’t work for him. I don’t apportion any blame to John, he’s been one of our best players this season.


“It was a mistake but his performance has been brilliant and he’ll get over it.”

After a farily dull opening 30 minutes Armstrong opened the scoring for the hosts after making space in a packed penalty area and he beati Thorsten Strickmann with a neat low finish.

Armstrong should have made it 2-0 five minutes later but he missed his one-on-one opportunity following a clever through ball from the Ryan Kent.

After the break the hosts pressed for a second but it was Doncaster who pulled level seven minutes after the break when Tyson made the most of a goalkeeping error by Reice Charles-Cook to poke the ball home.

Fleck then bagged sixth ever goal for the Sky Blues with a superb long range effort from 25 yards which nestled straight into the bottom right-hand corner of the net with 30 minutes remaining.

Mowbray’s side had chances to extend their lead with Jacob Murphy hotting the side netting and Armstrong sent a curling shot inches wide of goal.

But it was Fleck’s mistake in the 72nd minute that allowed the visitors get back on level terms again.

The City midfielder loss possession with a poor pass and the ball fell kindly for Tyson who beat Charles-Cook with a neat finish.

It could have been worse for the Sky Blues in stoppage time with Tyson unleashing a curling shot which had the goalkeeper beaten but his effort came back off the crossbar.

“It is a frustrated dressing room in there as the players knew they could get all three points but it wasn’t to be.

“You will have days like Saturday in a season so we’ve got to accept that and move on. We’ve got to look at the wider picture and enjoy where we are in the league at the moment.

“We’re still unbeaten at home and we should round on the positives. They set up to defend in numbers and they made it difficult for us so we’ll dust ourselves down and move on.”

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