TONY RAPS GOAL-SHY ATTACKERS
TONY MOWBRAY blasted his misfiring attackers as Coventry City’s play-off chances were dealt a blow at London Road.
It is now one win in seven for the Sky Blues after they squandered a catalogue of glorious chances against an opportunistic Peterborough United – who themselves now have an outside opportunity to gate-crash the end of season party following two successive victories.
City boss Mowbray said:“We were scoring goals for fun at the start of the season but we’re finding it tougher now.
“We simply haven’t scored enough goals during the second half of the season.You have to score goals if you want to win matches.
“We had some really good chances and hit the post twice but we weren’t good enough in front of goal.
“We have to remember we’re a good footballing side at this level and the play-offs are still in reach.”
Goalkeeper Ben Alnwick was called into action as early as the eighth minute – tipping the ball over following a strong Joe Cole effort inside the box.
And three minutes later the same man did brilliantly to push a cleanthrough Jacob Murphy strike onto the near post.
Posh were in danger of becoming a one-man band when, in the 16th minute, Alnwick again saved well from Murphy.
Time and time again City tore the home defence apart and, after MarcAntoine Fortune squirmed his way through, Andrew Fox desperately cleared the striker’s shot off the line.
Before the half-hour mark Alnwick had to make two further fine saves from Sam Ricketts and Fortune.
However, on the stroke of half-time, the hosts somehow broke the deadlock. Marcus Maddison’s corner found Michael Bostwick at the far stick who directed his header into the corner.
Substitute Jodi Jones’ direct approach after the break was a bright spark for the visitors – who continued to dominate.
But their lack of clinical ability was their Achilles heel again as – on the break – United doubled their advantage on 62 minutes. Maddison cut the ball back for the onrushing Lee Angol, who side-footed the ball home.
Three minutes later and Coventry executed a carbon copy to half the deficit, with ex-England international Cole finishing expertly from Murphy’s pin-point cross.
The destination of the all-important three points was confirmed in the 69th minute. Shaq Coulthirst’s drive fell kindly to Beautyman who drilled the ball home.
Posh manager Graham Westley said:“We won’t give up on the play-offs until it is mathematically impossible.
“We will keep going out there to win games and see where it takes us. “Our goalkeeper was far too busy in the first half but everything about us was better after the break – our intensity and confidence.”