Kitching SINKS own goals hit top City as six bid
TWO own goals from Liam Kitching saw Cardiff come from behind to take the full three points at Coventry City in front of an Easter Monday crowd of 28,529 at the CBS Arena.
Ellis Simms gave City the early lead in the 22nd minute after a lovely four man move but the visitors pulled level six minutes later from a corner when Liam Kitching put the ball inadvertently into his own net under pressure from Josh Bowler.
Kasey Palmer and Ben Sheaf went close prior to the Sky Blues taking their deserved lead but Coventry shot themselves in the foot to ensure they went in all square at the break.
The Bluebirds then took the lead in the 68th minute when Bowler hit a cross-cum-shot from the right that deflected off Jake Bidwell and then Kitching, who was credited with a second own goal of the afternoon.
Haji Wright thought he had pulled City level six minutes from time when he headed into the back of the net from a Ben Sheaf cross but the goal was disallowed for offside.
The first chance of the game fell
Coventry’s way after six minutes when Haji Wright charged through the middle before playing in Kasey Palmer, whose effort was held by Cardiff goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.
A bright start by the Sky Blues continued with midfielder Ben Sheaf bending a superb effort from outside the area narrowly over the bar, with Horvath well beaten.
Against the run of play, Cardiff believed they should have been awarded a penalty in the 15th minute when Perry Ng went down under Jake Bidwell’s challenge but referee Leigh Doughty was unmoved.
The hosts took the lead after 22 minutes when Palmer played the ball right for Milan van Ewijk and his low cross was tapped in by Simms for his 11th goal in seven games.
However, the Bluebirds drew level in bizarre fashion seven minutes later when midfielder Joe Ralls’ corner caused problems, leading to Kitching slamming in the first of his own goals.
The best chance the Sky Blues had to regain the lead before half-time came when Van Ewijk pulled the ball back for Palmer, who miscued his effort wide.
Cardiff then almost completed the turnaround within 23 seconds of the restart when Josh Bowler hammered a long-range strike narrowly past the post.
An even better chance for the Bluebirds then came when Yakou Meite’s pass put Karlan Grant clean through on goal, only for the striker to shoot well wide.
Having started the second half shakily, Coventry began to reassert themselves with Van Ewijk quickly sorting his feet out after Wright’s pass ran his way before shooting off-target.
However, Kitching’s tortuous afternoon took a further turn for the worse when Bowler’s cross deflected off him and looped into the far corner past a stranded Brad Collins to gift the visitors the lead.
Coventry boss Mark Robins turned to his bench in trying to salvage the situation but going behind had clearly rocked the hosts, whose passing now lacked its earlier accuracy.
They did have the ball in the net with six minutes left when Wright headed in Sheaf’s cross but the linesman’s flag quickly silenced Coventry City cheers as their promotion hopes took a hit.