TEENAGE KICKS DO DAMAGE FOR COV
A WINNING goal worthy of the grandest stage was how Tony Mowbray’s described Adam Armstrong’s late strike to cap off a thrilling second-half fightback.
For the second season in a row Coventry came from two goals down at half-time to win 3-2 against Peterborough, and their 18-yearold striker was the hero after he brilliantly turned past Ricardo Santos and slotted beyond Ben Alnwick.
Armstrong’s effort was the second fine strike of the game after Erhun Oztumer had followed up Jermaine Anderson’s opener with a devilish 25-yard effort.
But Romain Vincelot’s second goal in as many games, followed by Armstrong’s ninth and tenth goals of the season after a dip in form, preserved high-flying Coventry’s unbeaten home run this season.
Sky Blues boss Tony Mowbray, who rested Joe Cole, said: “We always knew it was going to be an open game. I thought we were unfortunate to be 2-0 down at half-time.
“Second-half what can I say? I’m delighted for the fans to see the players show that fight.
“Adam’s second goal – any player in the world who scored a goal like that we would be eulogising about it.
“We are not surprised having watched him all season. I’m delighted for him. Strikers can get a bit moody when they do not score but this will give him a huge lift.
“I was frustrated in the first-half because he played too high. I wanted him to play as a No.10. But thankfully we got the job done.”
Posh took the lead when Conor Washington ran down the left and squared it for Anderson ten yards out.
Armstrong then struck the post before Oztumer smashed home a 25-yard shot which appeared to deceive Reice Charles Cook in the air.
Mowbray threw on Jim O’Brien and Ryan Kent for the second-half and the hosts pulled a goal back when John Fleck’s 30-yard effort bounced off the post and Vincelot reacted quickest.
Washington was denied by the goalkeeper when through on goal, but Newcastle loanee Armstrong – who had earlier seen another effort saved – struck when Jacob Murphy burst past Santos and squared it to him inside the area.
And with three minutes left the striker’s audacity completed the comeback.
Peterborough manager Graham Westley believed the substitution of defensive midfielder Chris Forrester, who came off due to illness, was a turning point in the match.
He said:“The referee said to me at the end, ‘you’ll play a lot, lot worse and win games’. And he’s right. I thought the boys gave so much to the game. In the first-half they were brilliant with the football.
“We worked it so well from the back through the thirds of the pitch – exhilarating stuff. But after half-time the change altered the way we played – Forrester gives us so much in there.
“Fair play to them, they made their changes and brought on pace, width and got at us.”