Bristol City vs Coventry City; Sky Bet Championship
Bristol City vs Coventry City. Sky Bet Championship.
Ashton GateAttendance19,192.
Bristol City 1
- C Martin (62nd minute)
Coventry City 2
- I Maatsen (25th minute)
- V Gyokeres (89th minute)
Bristol City 1-2 Coventry: Viktor Gyokeres snatches late win for Sky Blues
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Bristol City and Coventry at Ashton Gate as Viktor Gyokeres scored late on to seal victory for the Sky Blues on Tuesday night
Tuesday 22 February 2022 23:11, UK
Viktor Gyokeres kept Coventry's charge towards the Sky Bet Championship play-offs on course with an 89th-minute winner in a 2-1 victory at Bristol City.
The striker was allowed to move unchallenged into the box and shoot past the advancing Dan Bentley after Callum O'Hare had inspired a break from midfield.
Coventry took a 25th-minute lead when Ben Hamer's probing ball forward from midfield exposed a gap in Bristol's back-line and Ian Maatsen took his time before beating Bentley with a left-footed volley.
But the hosts hit back on 62 minutes, Andreas Weimann nodding an Alex Scott centre across goal for the unmarked Chris Martin to head home from six yards.
Both sides deserved something from a thrilling end-to-end contest. But Bristol City were unable to mark Nigel Pearson's first anniversary as manager with a positive result.
The home side created the first chance on 15 minutes when Weimann headed wide at the far post from a Scott free-kick on the left.
Moments later Han-Noah Massengo brought the first save of the game from Coventry goalkeeper Simon Moore with a low drive from outside the box.
Coventry were looking the sharper team and deservedly took the lead through Maatsen's composed finish.
Two minutes later Gyokeres broke clear down the right and screwed his shot wide of the far post before Hamer had an effort deflected wide.
Bristol City's best first-half chance came on 37 minutes. Antoine Semenyo latched onto a misplaced pass from Todd Kane and raced through, only to shoot wide with Weimann well placed to receive a cross in the centre of goal.
Pearson's side began the second half on the front foot and almost equalised on 52 minutes when Semenyo's powerful header from Scott's free-kick smacked against the crossbar.
Massengo had a shot blocked when well-placed as the home side piled on the pressure. But Coventry almost doubled their advantage when O'Hare's run and shot brought a smart Bentley save.
Martin's equaliser rewarded Pearson's men for upping their game before Weimann fired over from a Semenyo cross as the hosts retained the initiative.
But Coventry suddenly rediscovered their attacking zest and went close twice in a minute, Bentley saving brilliantly from Maatsen and Dominic Hyam heading against the far post from a corner.
Both sides had chances in the closing stages, Coventry goalkeeper Simon Moore saving bravely at the feet of Martin and Weimann, but it was Gyokeres who made the telling contribution to move the visitors to within two points of the top six.
What the managers said...
Bristol City's Nigel Pearson: "We have been done yet again by a late goal, but this time it stemmed from an individual mistake, rather than collective anxiety. It was a good performance. But it's a results business and we are not winning enough, despite the players trying very hard. It's a big hit to take because we didn't deserve to lose that game. But we are making progress and our fans can see that the lads are giving everything.
"Mark set his side up as I would have done playing us and looked to catch us on the break. He is among the most underrated managers in the game. All credit to Coventry for the way they played. I am happy with a lot of what I saw from my players and we will keep working to improve. A lot of young players are learning the hard way at times. But football is like life - you learn more from the bad stuff than the good."
Coventry's Mark Robins: "That was one of our toughest games of the season, so it was a fantastic result. Nigel Pearson has done a brilliant job with Bristol City and his team are a totally different proposition to last season. Their front three cause problems and they have some exciting young players, with a desire to do well. We had to play well. We were a bit fortunate at times, but we kept going and always looked like creating chances.
"Gus Hamer has been involved in both goals and his return to the team was very important. He has set up the last one with the composure to pass to Viktor, who looks out on his feet at times, but produced a quality finish. We defended well, apart from the goal, which came from a move they had clearly worked on. It wasn't our best performance, but it was one of our best results, considering how Bristol City played."
