DRAW HAS TONY SINGING THE BLUES
BOTH managers left the Ricoh Arena thinking of what might have been – but Coventry boss Tony Mowbray felt a greater sense of injustice.
Twice his side went in front and twice they threw away their advantage with some sloppy play.
The draw meant they have gone 11 games unbeaten in the league – but that was not enough to lift his sense of regret.
Mowbray said: “We didn’t lose but the nature of the goals we conceded was very, very disappointing because they did not have to work for them.
“There was plenty of good play and we had lots of opportunities to put the game to bed but we did not take them.
“We have a little break now and we have to dust ourselves down and then go again.”
Midfielder John Fleck was involved in the first Rovers goal, and responsible for their second when he gave the ball away in his own area.
“It is unusual for John to have such a loss of concentration. Technically he is very gifted and he could have done a host of things with the ball in that situation, but I won’t apportion blame,” added Mowbray.
“He does well for us week in, week out and this is something that we have just got to take on the chin.’’
Adam Armstrong put the home side in front on the half hour when he pounced on a blocked shot and fired in his 13th of the season.
They could have stretched that lead and at the start of the second half looked to believe their own hype.
Fleck lost the ball in the 52nd minute and when goalkeeper Reice CharlesCook failed to hold Andy Williams’ shot, Nathan Tyson was on hand to score.
Fleck looked to have redeemed himself just five minutes later when his low effort went through a crowd of players and in off a post – but worse was to come.
There looked little danger when Fleck tried to pass his way out of defence in the 72nd minute and instead gave the ball to Tyson who did well to score.
The striker could well have had a hat-trick two minutes into injury time when his clever lob beat Charles-Cook – only to hit the bar and bounce out.
“I have said to the players that I am disappointed in the end that we did not take the three points when Tyson hit the bar,” said Rovers boss Darren Ferguson.
“We gave as good as we got against a good team who are going well.
“It was pleasing to see us come back twice as that has not happened enough this season. When we have gone behind this season, we have lost.
“We knew we would be good on the counter and some of our play was very, very good. I am pleased with the performance but not overly pleased with the result.
“I thought it was a good game and a good advert for the league.
“I have seen that my team now believe in themselves. I know we are a good team and we showed that.”