SKY BLUES FULL OF THE WRIGHT STUFF
Robins: We were brilliant!
MARK Robins was full of praise for his Coventry side who ended Leeds’s 15-game unbeaten run thanks to goals from Ellis Simms and Haji Wright.
Joel Piroe pulled a goal back for Daniel Farke’s side, but the Yorkshire outfit couldn’t salvage a point as they missed the chance to go top after Ipswich’s defeat to Norwich City.
It was also an important win for the Sky Blues, who kept pace with the Canaries in the race for the top six.
“They were brilliant really,” beamed Robins. “We’re coming up against a top team with top players, with pace, with power, with quality.
“The two goals were absolutely brilliant, one from a set-play, Ellis is on his toes to finish that one off and the second one is a fantastic ball.
“It’s Josh Eccles birthday today, brilliant ball in, great shape on it and Haji’s put it in with the outside of a foot and that gave us a bit of a cushion.
“We defended pretty well where you have to, I think we slashed at one or two things during the game but, mostly, we were pretty good and calm.
“Second half we were without it a lot more than in the first half when we started to tire and then they made changes and brought full international players on, every one of them, to a man, they’ve done really well.
“They deserve it for their work rate, but some of the quality that we showed is really pleasing. The noise was incredible, my ears are ringing.”
Simms put the Sky Blues ahead with his 14th goal in 11 games in all competitions when he nodded in from close. It followed good work from Bobby Thomas, who hooked Eccles’ corner back into the danger zone before Liam Kitching’s header found Simms in the six-yard box. Robins’ men went in search of a second as they carved the shaky Leeds’ back-line apart minutes later. Kasey Palmer’s smart pass played in the returning Callum O’Hare, but his shot was blocked by the legs of Illan Meslier in Leeds goal. Palmer then saw his effort ricochet off a Leeds defender to safety, while Simms flashed an effort wide. At the other end, Junior Firpo’s cross looked to be on a plate for Patrick Bamford, but he couldn’t make a clean contact in what was Farke’s side’s best chance of the first half.
Coventry deservedly doubled their lead after the break after an incisive breakaway from Crysencio Summerville’s free-kick. Milan van Ewijk brought the ball away from danger and laid off to Eccles, whose mesmerising ball into the box was met by a brilliant finish by Wright with the outside of a foot.
Leeds went in search of a goal to halve the deficit and looked most threatening via Summerville, who forced Brad Collins into action for the first time at his near post.
Jake Bidwell’s acrobatics then prevented Summerville from equalising as he cleared his effort off the line.
Substitute Piroe gave Leeds hope in the closing stages when he calmly side-footed home following persistent work from Georginio Rutter.
Piroe had a golden chance to salvage a point in injury time, but his effort was kept out by Collins as Leeds’ automatic promotion hopes were dealt a blow at the CBS Arena.