It’s foul luck for Latics

Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 15 April 2015


Coventry 1, Athletic 1

ATHLETIC were left cursing the strange, unfathomable whims of match officials as a brave effort ended in the reward of only a point at the Ricoh Arena.

When Connor Brown was strong-armed over deep in Athletic's left-back zone by Frank Nouble, shortly after a board indicating six minutes of added time were to be played out, players, officials and fans alike who had made the trip south expected referee Andy Madley to signal for a foul.

Instead, play was waved on. With Brown floored in full view of an assistant referee, Nouble stepped over the prone left-back to send in a cross that was smashed home by the head of giant centre-back Reda Johnson.

Athletic were furious, captain Liam Kelly in particular. Coventry were by far the more assertive of the two sides in the second half and deserved their share of the spoils.

This was a vital point to aid the Sky Blues' battle against a catastrophic drop into League Two.

Their manager Tony Mowbray – who insisted

afterwards he felt there was no foul on Brown – would no doubt offer an argument that his men should have had a penalty earlier in the game when scorer Danny Philliskirk seemed to shove Chris Stokes in the back inside the penalty area during a tussle as a corner was flighted in.

But despite the feeling that Dean Holden's side would probably have accepted a draw had it been offered beforehand – Athletic are all but assured League One football for next season after this – two

controversial goals conceded in as many matches can't sit easy with a manager trying to gather hard evidence to show he is worthy of a permanent gig.

Holden and Tony Philliskirk, both qualified referees, had quiet words with the fourth official to register disappointment. Deep down, the manager will also know that Brown's tendency to go down under the slightest contact is an accident waiting to happen.

Philliskirk's goal had earlier lit up an opening half which featured some solid work from the visitors. Mike Jones took a quick free-kick in the 13th minute, Carl Winchester sped away down the left and Philliskirk flicked home against the club he used to represent from in front of the penalty spot.

It was Philliskirk’s first goal since November, reward for another bright performance which showed he is over his recent bout of fatigue.

“The forward lads are creative players,” Holden said of the opening goal. “They got on the ball and made it happen. The key is not to let the opposition get 'set' when they are as big as Coventry are.

“Catching them quickly, off guard, is important and they did that to perfection.

“It was a good finish and at that point in the game, we were in control.”

That control was gradually prised away. Even before the goal, Coventry had missed a great chance.

Only German striker Nick Proschwitz, once a £2.6million signing for Hull, will know how he failed to head in Johnson's nod-down from six yards.

The on-loan Brentford player's tame effort was well clawed out by the terrific Joel Coleman.

Jim O'Brien worked Coleman again with a shot which bounced horribly in front of him, while John Fleck extended him to the left with a daisy-cutter.

And after James Wilson

hammered a great attempt from 40 yards a couple of feet over the top on the half-volley, Coleman was again called into action to catch the awkward Proschwitz's ambitious try from a tight angle.

While Athletic had shown signs of springing with purpose on the counter-attack in the first 45 minutes with Rhys Turner making clever runs, after that the game was

virtually one-way traffic.

Coventry's play-makers, allied with their raw power, established a stranglehold in terms of territory.

As the home fans roared on their players, Coleman had to be out sharply to collect a through ball intended for Proschwitz, and James Wilson and Adam Lockwood were busy men dealing with the threats posed.

Lockwood did well to put off Simeon Jackson from reaching a cross directed into the six-yard box by the tricky Nouble, and when James Maddison danced his way into a shooting position Coleman was again equal to it, low at his near post.

Sanmi Odelusi's wild swing over on the half-volley brought with it plentiful groans after 89 minutes.

Despite a change in personnel, though – Athletic ended the game with a forward line of Rhys Murphy supporting Amari Morgan-Smith – the ball kept on coming back.

And man-mountain Johnson, a centre-back by trade, made his presence felt to net for a sixth time this season.

twitter: @Matt_Chambers_