PRESSLEY GETS HIS REVENGE
FLEETWOOD manager Steven Pressley had a day of contrasting moods – but ended this game with a grin from ear to ear.
Pressley, who lost his job as Sky Blues boss last season, saw his side take the lead, give it away again and then finish with a thunderbolt of a winning goal.
And amongst all that, he also saw his side denied what looked a clear penalty. But all that was forgotten as he left the Ricoh Arena.
He said:“I was very proud of our reaction after a set-back in midweek, but to take six points from nine is an achievement.
“It is hard to pick any individuals out after that performance and the only disappointment is that we only won 2-1 because we had so many good moments.
“We had to take advantage when they came around, and David Ball’s finish was first class – he was excellent.
“It is not just the win which matters, it is also the psychological boost this will give us.
“I have got fond memories and this is a terrific club, and this was a big day for me and for Fleetwood.”
Coventry had looked the stronger side in the first half but failed to test goalkeeper Chris Maxwell as much as their dominance suggested they should.
James Maddison was pulling the strings in midfield for the home side and he was involved in most good things the Sky Blues did.
He had an early shot deflected wide and then teed up Adam Armstrong in the ninth minute, only for the young striker to lift his shot over the crossbar and wide.
Veteran Joe Cole also kept probing down the left and he set up one chance with a sublime cross using the outside of his right foot, but the highly impressive Joe Davis made a very good clearance.
But for all Coventry’s flair, they tended to overplay on the fringes of the area.
And when Fleetwood stepped up the pace they took the lead with a sweeping move in the 56th minute.
Maddison gave the ball away in midfield and when Ball crossed in from the right,Wes Burns was able to head simply home.
Tony Mowbray, who had replaced Pressley at the Ricoh, showed how unhappy he was with his side’s performance by making three changes, and in the 74th minute it paid off when veteran Marcus Tudgay was able to turn the ball home after the visiting defence had allowed Armstrong to ghost in behind them.
Coventry rallied, and for a while it looked as if they would sweep to victory, but it turned out totally differently. Reice Charles-Cook had to make a stunning save to deny James Ryan, but there was nothing he could do in the 83rd minute when Ball rocketed in from 20 yards to send Pressley into a jig of joy.
His counterpart was in a contrasting mood.
“You will not get the same performance every week,” Mowbray said.“For 20 minutes we were very good and dominant, and probably became over-confident and began to play to their strengths.
“We tried to play through the middle when we had got joy from playing down the sides. We have to put this behind us and we probably have to win half our games to give ourselves a chance of making the play-offs.”