TAVARES RESCUES SKY BLUES... JUST!
MARK Robins branded Ryan Lowe’s take on his side’s last-gasp equaliser a “load of cr*p” as the Preston boss bemoaned the amount of added time after Fabio Tavares’ 98th-minute goal rescued Coventry a last-gasp point.
In a frantic final ten minutes, North End defender Liam Lindsay was shown a second yellow card, before Fankaty Dabo also saw red for hauling down Emil Riis Jakobsen in the box, before Daniel Johnson stepped up to put Preston a goal to the good with his 89th minute spot kick.
But it was 21-year-old Tavares who had the final say, scoring his first Sky Blues goal in just his second appearance, five minutes after being introduced as a substitute.
“When you put six minutes up and you play seven minutes 20 seconds, it’s tough to take,” bemoaned Lowe. “But I thought the lads were fantastic in everything they did.”
After Dabo was dismissed for bundling Jakobsen over in the box, Johnson had to wait three minutes to take the resulting spot kick as two Sky Blue fans encroached onto the pitch.
“I’m disappointed with how things were going off, people running on the pitch, threatening players, it shouldn’t happen.
“Yeah we have been penalised by people coming on the pitch, if it’s six minutes, it’s six minutes and I know they say it’s up to six minutes, but it’s hard to take.”
Coventry started the brighter with Viktor Gyokeres and Dom Hyam meeting inviting crosses.
But Lowe’s men defended resolutely and earned their first chance via Ched Evans just before the half-hour mark. The striker forcing Simon Moore into what was to become a string of saves, most notably after 40 minutes after a flowing move, but his effort was clawed away.
The Sky Blues found themselves hanging on at the end of the first half and it was more of the same after the break as Moore again thwarted Evans.
Despite the Whites’ pressure, Coventry still posed a threat when Ian Maatsen teed up a volley which he fired wide.
Preston refused to settle for a point and it was Moore again who came to the rescue, beating away Cameron Archer’s effort.
The visitors were reduced to ten men with six minutes left when Lindsey was shown a second yellow for clattering Gyokeres into the advertising.
Less than 120 seconds later, Keith Stroud evened things up when Dabo brought down Jakobsen and was shown a red card.
After a lengthy delay, Johnson stepped up and sent Moore the wrong way. But Tavares had other ideas, cutting inside and rifling an effort into a top corner.
Coventry boss Mark Robins denied that the pitch invaders contributed to the added time.
“We celebrated a goal they didn’t want us to celebrate,” said Robins. “I don’t think you’re allowed to celebrate against them.
“I’m sure he’s complained about the minutes added on because of people invading, what a load of cr*p. They can complain as much as they like. It’s a big point. The people that came onto the pitch deserve everything they get coming to them.”