Rose red kills Cov

COVENTRY CITY lost a man early on and were blown away by Blackburn.

Rovers roared again after the Sky Blues had Michael Rose sent off in the 14th minute for fouling Ben Brereton as he shaped up for a shot.

Former Coventry striker Adam Armstrong (above) had a penalty saved in midweek but blasted this one in and finished off a great move for the second in the 49th minute.

It’s the third time Coventry have had a player sent off this season so they should be used to surrounding the wagons. But they were torn apart.

Since piling up nine goals in two games, Blackburn had gone dry in three winless matches.

But they could have had a bagful this time.

“Now let’s see what we can do against the league leaders, Reading, on Tuesday,” said Mowbray, who managed the Sky Blues before resigning four years ago.

“That’s the big test for us.

“It would have been harder if Coventry had had 11 men but there were some things to be very pleased with in the way we played.

Armstrong’s second came after Bradley Johnson and Brereton had set him up, shooting high into the net.

Harvey Elliott, on loan from Liverpool, got the third in the 62nd minute with an easy tap-in from Brereton’s pass and sub Sam Gallagher was on the end of a terrific move for number four two minutes from time.

It’s four without a win for the Sky Blues and boss Mark Robins admitted: “The game was lost when we had a player sent off.”

COVENTRY: Marosi 6; Rose 4, McFadzean 5, Hyam 5 ; McCallum (Pask 60,5) 5, Sheaf 5, Kelly 5, Giles 5; Allen 5, O’Hare 6 (Kastaneer 77,5); Godden 6 (Biamou 60, 5).

Unused Subs: Wilson, Ostigard, Biamou, Bapaga BLACKBURN: Kaminski 6; Rankin-Costello 7, Lenihan 7, Williams 7, Douglas 7 (Bell 61,6); Trybull 7 (Buckley 68,6), Holtby 7, Johnson 7; Elliott 7, Armstrong 8 (Gallagher 64,6), Brereton 7. Unused Subs: Pears, Nyambe, Evans, Dolan.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Adam Armstrong. Probably upset when subbed because second hat trick of season was on the cards. REFEREE: Darren England 6.