CITY WINNER’S A REAL GODD-SEND
DELIGHTED boos Mark Robins saw his Coventry side weather the conditions at Rochdale and maintain their promotion push thanks to Matty Godden’s winner.
Michael Rose headed the Sky Blues ahead after four minutes and Godden added a second in the 71st minute.
The Sky Blues boss was less than happy with the manner in which his side conceded within 60 seconds of going 2-0 up, Aaron Wilbraham capitalising for Dale. Robins suggested the soft goal could provide the “kick up the backside” his team need. However, he insisted he would not dwell on the negatives after a “brilliant” three points.
“The boys got the job done, even though I didn’t think it was a great performance,” he said. “Conditions were tough and the level of water beneath the pitch was quite high so the ground underneath it moves.
“It was tough, but we handled that well in the first half and got our noses in front, deservedly, from a great ball in and a great header.
“That settled any nerves, but I don’t think we really got to grips with Rochdale enough and that takes bravery and courage, which they showed plenty of.
“Rochdale are in a situation where they have to throw caution to the wind and we weren’t good enough at getting on the ball.
“We got the second goal which was a great move, but then thought we’d won it and they go down the other end and score straight away. It was a disgrace of a goal, a joke, and we can’t afford to do that. I hope that’s a kick up the backside for us.”
The Sky Blues went ahead when Liam Walsh’s cross looped over Robert Sanchez in the Dale goal and picked out Rose, who climbed above the backpedaling defence to head home.
Dale came close when Ian Henderson met Rhys Norrington-Davies’ cross and volleyed on target, Marko Marosi scrambling the ball on to the foot of the post.
Coventry doubled their lead when Fankaty Dabo intercepted a loose pass and fed Jamie Allen. When he picked out Godden, the frontman fired across Sanchez and into the corner of the net.
Dale kept the game alive when Wilbraham scored a scrappy goal with a left-foot shot from inside the box 60 seconds later, but the visitors saw the game out comfortably.
Rochdale boss Brian Barry-Murphy said: “It was a difficult result to take. Coventry scoring so early in the game was a setback, but in the first half we created some good goalscoring chances ourselves against a high-calibre opponent.
“We weren’t able to take those chances and it was a tough game, but we gave as good as we got in the second half.”