THAT WAS FOR YOU CYRILLE!
COVENTRY manager Mark Robins thought it was fitting that Coventry claimed victory over Swindon on an emotional day for the Sky Blues as they honoured their former striker Cyrille Regis.
A stunning 25-yard effort from Max Biamou and a Marc McNulty double ensured all three points for Coventry as they moved into the play-off places.
Ollie Banks’ tap-in before half-time gave the Robins hope but ultimately their threematch unbeaten streak came to an end.
Robins said: “It was a real moving day to honour and celebrate Cyrille’s life and it was a fitting result and three points, and I’m sure he would be looking down on us happy.
“We were ruthless when we had the chances because they are a real potent attacking threat.
“When you’ve got the players that they’ve been able to bring in; and to deal with that, I thought we were under no real threat.”
Inside the first minute, the home side were on top as Jordan Shipley’s shot was deflected wide, with the resulting corner causing problems for former Sky Blues goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook.
The opening goal came on 17 minutes as Swindon failed to clear their lines, with McNulty holding up the ball before teeing up Biamou to unleash an unstoppable shot into the topright corner.
Five minutes later, Coventry added a second as McNulty was bundled over in the box by Matt Preston, with the striker firing home the resultant penalty to double the lead.
That woke up Swindon, who gave themselves a lifeline as Ellis Iandolo was afforded time to put a pinpoint cross across the six-yard box for Banks to tap in and reduce the deficit.
Coventry goalkeeper Lee Burge kept his side ahead at the break, pulling off a stunning save to deny Keshi Anderson’s volley, pushing his shot onto bar from 20 yards.
Burge was again on hand to deny the visitors on the hour as the ball bounced around the area as a goalmouth scramble ensured but was somehow cleared, with the visitors pushing for an equaliser.
Coventry sealed the win with 10 minutes remaining as McNulty robbed the ball on the 18-yard line from Anderson before curling a shot beyond Reice-Cook to seal the win, much to the frustration of Swindon manager David Flitcroft.
Flitcroft said: “The first goal is as good as you are going to see and it’s quite difficult to stop. We didn’t reset or refocus, and the penalty is too easy. The work down our left-hand side wasn’t right.
“Our most dominating spell was when we were 2-0 behind and we keep the ball and we create chances and get an excellent goal back.
“We create chances but it’s about being ruthless to go and get to 2-2.”