Late lapses so costly for City
AFC Wimbledon’s injury-time equaliser on Tuesday night prevented Russell Slade from claiming his first league win as Coventry City manager.
The Sky Blues took the lead through substitute Jodi Jones at Kingsmeadow, before Paul Robinson salvaged a point for the Dons deep into added time.
Late goals have cost Coventry City on more occasions than have gone their way this season, and the Sky Blues have dropped a total of ten points after conceding a goal in the last ten minutes. In contrast, Andre Wright’s 94th minute equaliser in Tony Mowbray’s last game against AFC Wimbledon at the Ricoh Arena, is the only time they have salvaged a point late on.
Here’s a look back at the seven games which have seen the Sky Blues pegged back or beaten in the final ten minutes...
Swindon Town (A) Saturday, August 6 - 1-0: The opening day of the season and although it wasn’t a classic game of two halves, the Robins certainly gained the momentum in the second period after Tony Mowbray’s men had passed up four excellent opportunities to take a lead into the break.
Yaser Kasim’s 86th minute goal tipped the scales for Swindon and condemned the Sky Blues to another defeat at one of their bogey grounds.
MK Dons (H) - Saturday, November 26 - 1-2: The Ben Stevenson game! The young prodigy cancelled out Ed Upson’s opener with a spectacular 30-yard effort but, with the game all square and the hosts pushing for the winner, he was shown a straight red card 15 minutes from time.
Stevenson dived in for a 50-50 ball with Lewington and referee Davies - perhaps persuaded by the Dons captain’s melodramatic reaction - promptly red-carded the teenager.
The Londoners made their advantage count in the 81st minute, when Upson doubled his tally to grab the winner from six yards.
Sheffield United (H) - Thursday, December 15 - 1-2: In front of the Sky Sports cameras, League One big boys Sheffield United arrived at the Ricoh
Fleetwood Town (H) - Saturday, January 21 - 0-1: Coventry slumped seven points shy of League One safety as a cruel late goal maintained Fleetwood’s play-off momentum.
The Sky Blues matched the visitors for 89 minutes of a generally poorquality game but just as it seemed they were on course for a heartening draw they were sunk by a setpiece sucker-punch.
Newly-signed substitute Wes Burns – a scorer at the Ricoh last season while he was on loan with the Cod Army – was denied by Burge as he scampered through a near-post gap. But the reprieve was momentary as Dempsey spooned the corner into the middle and Bolger arrived late to ram home a powerful header from the six-yard line.
Peterborough United (A) Saturday, December 31 - 1-1: City ended their bleak run of seven consecutive league defeats but left London Road bitterly disappointed at not claiming the full three points.
Skipper Jordan Willis had given the visitors an early lead after bundling home an Andy Rose head-down.
But Posh defender Michael Bostwick snatched an equaliser in the third of four added minutes – the Sky Blues protesting in vain that Marvin Sordelll had been fouled in the build-up. Bolton Wanderers (H) - Monday, January 2 - 2-2:
AFC Wimbledon (A) Tuesday, February 14 - 1-1: The Sky Blues travelled to Wimbledon on Valentine’s Day with Russell Slade still looking for his first league win at City boss.
It looked as if they would leave London with all three points after substitute Jodi Jones gave them a second-half lead. But the Wombles responded in the third minute of injury time as Paul Robinson secured a point with a superb finish when the ball fell to him in the box.
If City had managed to hold on to all of those points they would still be in the relegation zone – but they would be facing a more than bridgeable gap of one point as opposed to the current chasm of 11.