Championship
Opinions
Play-offs

Coventry 1 - 0 Forest


This was a thoroughly frustrating evening where nothing went right for us in the final third. Most of the game was played in the Coventry half with the hosts unable to make any impression. We dominated for long spells in midfield but couldn’t find a way through, conceded a poor goal and lost our way in the closing stages following a number of changes.

Due to the lack of recent signings, Cohen had to be pushed into left back duty, meaning a recall for Garner on the right hand side of midfield.

Both halves followed a similar pattern, all of the play in their half but unable to capitalise on all of the possession. Then about half way in, we lost our way and the game drifted.

In the first half, the goal came from nowhere and we lost our momentum. We should have been ahead when McKenna’s quick free kick got Garner clean though but he hit the keeper’s legs. Before half time he saw a looping header drop just wide.

Second half, we really came out and got at them. Blackstock missed a sitter from a yard and the ball didn't fall for us in the area when we needed it to. The rest of the half was very stop/start with loads of ‘injuries’ to their players and the referee who was replaced.

I don't think that Billy's changes worked and we lost all structure to the side which stopped us playing football. No problems with Earnshaw for Garner but taking Anderson off lost us all width down the left hand side. The subs combined with the ref change and Coventry's delaying tactics saw the game drift in the closing stages as we ran out of ideas. When we passed the ball, we looked impressive but we got increasingly desperate and ended up with too many long balls to Earnshaw when previously we'd been passing our way through their midfield.

Losing Cohen from midfield was a huge loss even though he looked decent at both ends. His combination with Anderson at the start of the second half looked the most likely source of any goals. We just didn’t have the same effect with Garner and Gunter down the right. Moussi looked better with both McKenna and Majewski around him as we generally controlled the midfield.

Without Tyson or McCleary we lacked wide options in reserve and the introduction of McGoldrick and McGugan (along with the ineffective Earnshaw) took us backwards instead of building on our good start.

When we were playing well MOTM Majewski was at the heart of everything and Coventry couldn't handle his movement.

A lift for the club, in terms of a new face in the squad, would do wonders.




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