MATIJA MAGIC Defiant Sarkic shuts out Sky Blues
MATIJA SARKIC helped 10-man Birmingham to a precious point despite being outplayed for long spells by Coventry.
Mark Robins’ side were the better team but could find no way past on-loan Wolves keeper Sarkic.
It meant the home side missed out on a chance to climb to third despite Brum losing Ryan Woods in the 82nd minute.
He was shown a straight red for bringing down Ian Maatsen with a cynical foul as the Chelsea loan ace threatened to run clear.
Coventry made the brighter start with striker Matty Godden having two efforts blocked.
But Birmingham went closer when Riley McGree landed a leftfoot volley from outside the box on top of the net.
Yet the Sky Blues remained the more dangerous side and Sarkic was called into action in the 25th minute to palm away a low shot by Godden after good passing involving dangerman Callum O’Hare.
Gustavo Hamer was also heavily involved and his cross saw Maatsen test Sarkic.
The lively Hamer then tried his luck from distance with a right-foot free-kick which went just wide.
The hosts also appealed for a penalty before the break when Viktor Gyokeres was pulled back in the box by Dion Sanderson.
After the break Sanderson was finally booked for bringing down Gyokeres as he tried to meet
Fankaty Dabo’s pass. But Birmingham should have taken the lead in the 59th minute when Troy Deeney’s clever flick from Woods’ free-kick picked out Scott Hogan who blazed over.
Hogan came into the match on the back of three goals in his last four games but his scoring touch deserted him at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
It left the hosts to push for a winner but Godden was denied by a flying Sarkic save after letting rip from the edge of the box.
Coventry had a let-off when McGree appeared to be pushed in the box as he had a shot sparking appeals for a penalty.
Birmingham then had to survive six minutes of stoppage time as they were reduced to 10 men for the second successive game after Gary Gardner’s dismissal at Hull.