Coventry City vs Luton Town. Sky Bet Championship.
St. Andrew's Stadium.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Coventry and Luton Town at St Andrew's as they played out a goalless draw on Tuesday night that saw the Hatters drop into the bottom half
Tuesday 8 December 2020 23:26, UK
Coventry's new-found defensive miserliness continued as a 0-0 draw at home to Luton gave them a third clean sheet in six games.
Tyler Walker came closest to breaking the deadlock by striking the post in the first half for the Sky Blues, who extended their unbeaten sequence to six matches by virtue of the stalemate.
Mark Robins' side, who remain 19th, seven points above the bottom three, have conceded just three goals in that run, having shipped 23 in their opening 11 games on their return to the Championship.
Luton, who slipped to 13th, have won just one in seven and saw their chances restricted with top scorer James Collins unusually wasteful with the limited opportunities which fell their way.
But defences were well on top as each side registered just one shot on target apiece during a fairly drab, yet hard-fought, affair.
Luton looked the more threatening side early on but it was Coventry who fashioned the first real chance after 18 minutes, Callum O'Hare running from deep to unleash a 20-yard shot which was deflected wide by Tom Lockyer.
More O'Hare brilliance set up the next opening five minutes later as he beat two defenders with a jinking run to the edge of the box and fed Walker, who took a touch and drove in a low shot which hit the foot of James Shea's near post.
A tidy move gave the Hatters their first real sight on goal 10 minutes before the interval as Luke Berry nodded down Jordan Clark's cross for Collins but he fired his first-time half-volley over.
Luton's lively winger Harry Cornick fizzed a ball across the face of goal, with Clark and Collins somehow failing to connect, before he tested Sky Blues 'keeper Ben Wilson from 25 yards.
Collins miscued a decent headed chance from another Cornick cross as the visitors finished the half strongly.
Coventry began the second period brightly as Gustavo Hamer fired a 25-yarder straight at Shea before Max Biamou glanced a header just wide from Fankaty Dabo's cross.
At the other end, Coventry defender Kyle McFadzean made a crucial near-post clearance to prevent Collins tapping home another low inviting Cornick centre.
Luton came closest to a late winner as Coventry captain Liam Kelly glanced Dan Potts' dangerous cross just wide of his own goal with a minute remaining.
But each side was ultimately content to settle for a point as Coventry stretched their undefeated run since the international break and Luton avoided a third successive away defeat.
Coventry's Mark Robins: "We need Matty Godden back fit, that's for sure. I'm limited in what I can do to change things. We were just a little bit lacking in energy and we needed to do a little bit more at the front end to try to unpick the lock. The [protective] boot that Matty had on his foot has come off. He's walking around normally.
"While Matty isn't available, it becomes really difficult to manage that front end. The lads are doing as well as they possibly can do in terms of giving me everything they've got. This is a tough, tough league, it's unbelievable. It's almost cruel, there's no turnaround time in terms of planning and preparation for games - we're enjoying it in almost a masochistic way."
Luton assistant Mick Harford: "We thought we showed a bit more intent than Coventry. It was a bit of a struggle for both sides to begin with. I thought we grew into the game, especially in the first half, and created the better chances. But it was two good defences on top and not a lot was created in the final third from both sides.
"To come away from home, keep a clean sheet, we are delighted but we just need to be a little bit better in the final third. We will keep persevering, we will keep doing the right things, keep trying to play in behind, keep training the right way, and I'm sure it will come.
