Coventry leap above Wayne Rooney’s Birmingham after Callum O’Hare double
Callum O’Hare scored his first goals in more than 18 months to steer Coventry to a 2-0 victory over Birmingham in the Championship.
O’Hare struck in the 30th and 77th minute in just his second start for Mark Robins’ men since suffering a serious knee injury on Boxing Day last year. The 25-year-old midfielder opened the scoring after he was played in by Milan van Ewijk and then scored a superb solo goal to make the three points safe in the second half.
The win means Coventry climb to 14th, two places above Birmingham, who suffered their sixth loss in nine games and their eighth away league defeat in succession under Wayne Rooney.
“That’s what I’ve been waiting for – all that long rehab, and I can finally say I’m back now,” said O’Hare afterwards. “I’m so happy. It’s been a tough time and all the emotions came out. I’m buzzing.”
Birmingham started well at the CBS Arena and created a chance through Krystian Bielik that was saved by Brad
Collins, who was also on hand again a minute later to keep a Juninho Bacuna effort at bay.
Coventry started to get a foothold in the game midway through the first half and looked a threat down the right through Van Ewijk, whose cross found O’Hare. But his effort was beaten away by John Ruddy.
The hosts opened the scoring when Van Ewijk and O’Hare combined again, and the latter held off the challenge of
Lee Buchanan to stab his effort in at the near post.
Coventry went in search of a second after half-time as Haji Wright had a hattrick of chances to extend the lead. First, the American met Van Ewijk’s pinpoint cross but his downward header was comfortable for Ruddy, who then blocked Wright’s second effort with his face a minute later after the forward beat Bacuna down the left.
Ruddy was called into action again when he gathered Wright’s low effort after he cut inside from the left for a second time after O’Hare’s delightful outside-of-the-foot pass. Van Ewijk was next to test Ruddy’s resolve when his powerful free-kick was clawed away by the former Norwich keeper before Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s effort was also kept out.
O’Hare completed his brace and gave Coventry breathing space on 77 minutes by dancing across the area and blasting a shot into the back of the net.
“Callum has been incredible,” said Robins. “He typifies the Coventry City spirit and the way we want to go about the job - tonight was outstanding and he deserves all the plaudits he’s going to get.”
Rooney, meanwhile, cut a dejected figure after this latest setback. “We have to be better defending in the box,” said the former England striker. “We’re conceding too many goals. Also our setpiece delivery wasn’t good enough.”