COV FANS SERVE UP A STORM
ANGRY Coventry fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch as Millwall made it virtually game, set and match in their League One relegation battle.
The home fans’ protest, meek in comparison with the ugly scenes at Northampton last week, appropriately came seconds before defender Jake Cooper bundled The Lions into a 33rd-minute lead.
Evergreen 33-year-old striker Steve Morison ensured it was 13 games without victory for the fast-sinking Sky Blues after good work by substitute Fred Onyedinma with 11 minutes left. In contrast, Millwall are just a couple of points adrift of the play-offs and unbeaten in ten games in league and cup.
Millwall boss Neil Harris sympathised with disgruntled Coventry supporters but felt their volley of unrest backfired.
“Well, we scored about ten seconds after the restart,” he said. “I went to the Northampton game and it (the protests) didn’t help them then – it was something I warned my players about, we needed to keep our focus.
“Their fan-base is the life blood of the club and, yes, I do feel for them. Coventry are a big football club.
“It was a battle but the difference was in the two penalty areas. My centre-backs were outstanding and we took our chances when they came.
“I could have rested both strikers but Lee (Gregory) and Steve (Morison) were both desperate to play.”
A disgraceful playing surface would have been a test for players exuding confidence.
Both sides struggled to string passes together with nervy Coventry goalkeeper Lee Burge having a nightmare dealing with the ball.
He did get down well to save from Morison at the near post but shared the blame with his sleepy defenders when Callum Reilly’s corner found Cooper unchallenged at the far post.
Defender Farrend Rawson was desperately unlucky not to equalise with a first-half header that bounced up and over Jordan Archer’s bar.
The nearest Coventry fans came to celebration was when they thought skipper Nathan Clarke’s 49th-minute effort had sneaked inside a post instead of nestling in the side netting.
An already disjointed struggle got worse and worse on the eye before Millwall grabbed a flattering second. Burge, ironically, produced his very best to keep out Onyedinma’s low shot only for Morison to gobble up the rebound. Coventry manager Russell Slade said: “They scored at great times but we didn’t help ourselves. Our play was too safe, we didn’t work their keeper enough. Their first goal came from basic, poor defending from a corner. “We needed to get a goal to give ourselves a lift. Goals give you lifts but they aren’t coming often enough. “We’re now in a huge, defining time for the club. We want a win in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday because wins build momentum – but our league status is vital to us.
“The players have to play out of their skin for us.”