CUP JOY FOR SKY BLUES!
WIN ON THE ROAD: CITY SINK TRACTOR BOYS TO REACH THIRD ROUND
COVENTRY City turned on the style to beat promotion rivals Ipswich Town at the third time of asking and qualify for the third round of the FA Cup.
First half goals from Jordan Shipley and Max Biamou put the Sky Blues firmly in control of the second round replay at Portman Road following a 1-1 draw in the first tie ten days ago, having also drawn 1-1 with the Tractors boys in the league last Saturday.
There had been little to choose between the two sides in the previous two encounters, but Mark Robins’s men proved too hot to handle in a superb first half showing away from home.
A late Luke Garbutt reply set up tense end to the tie but City kept their cool to see out the tremendous win amid five long minutes of added time.
It could have been so different, however, had Ipswich taken an early chance when they went close to opening the scoring inside the first minute when the ball was played through to Kayden Jackson who stretched to get a touch before being denied by a firm hand and good save by Marko Marosi.
But it was Coventry who got their noses in front when Max Biamou slipped Jordan Shipley in behind in the box for the midfielder to slot past the keeper with a cool and precise finish.
The visitors looked good on their 18th minute lead as they enjoyed plenty of early possession and got at their opponents with the front four in the 4-2-3-1 formation causing all manner of problems for the home side with their passing and movement in the final third.
And that worked to good effect again as Callum O’Hare forced the keeper to save at his near post when he threw himself to head a Shipley cross from the left, before the opening goal scorer returned the favour for Biamou, sending in a low ball to the six yard box where the striker hammered home to double the lead in the 33rd minute.
Shipley tested Holy again with an angled drive as City racked up five efforts on target from eight first half attempts on goal in arguably the best first half of football Mark Robins’s men have played so far this season.
The Ipswich fans booed their team off the field at the break and grew increasingly frustrated as Coventry continued to contain and stifle them as they attempted to mount a second half fight-back.
And City very nearly wrapped things up in the 65th minute when Jamie Allen set up Biamou who lifted his shot over the bar from 12 yards out in a terrific counter-attack as the home crowd became increasingly restless.
But the Tractor Boys finally got themselves back in contention when Luke Garbutt headed home a deep cross to the back post six minutes from time to set up a nervous end to what had been an otherwise comfortable tie.
Arguably the best first half of football Mark Robins’s men have played so far this season.