Coventry City match analysis via CoventryLive: Sky Blues writer Andy Turner looks at some of the main talking points from Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Blackburn Rovers.
Coventry City continued to run on empty following an emotionally and physically exhausting week in which they had to dig deep to face relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers.
Having hardly recovered from a midweek setback to Hull, which effectively destroyed any fragile aspirations of entering the Championship play-offs, the Sky Blues did astonishingly well to hold off John Eustace’s side despite a late onslaught when down to ten men.
A new ban and a growing injury list mean that the pressure will continue into the final week of the season, when City will host Ipswich Town on Tuesday night before facing QPR on the final day. Here, Sky Blues writer Andy Turner examines some of the key talking points from Saturday’s goalless draw at Ewood Park.
Costly Kitch
Liam Kitching achieved the dubious honor of becoming the first City player to be sent off three times in one season in the club’s history, and, in doing so shortly after the hour mark, made his team-mates’ job all the more difficult to secure a victory at struggling Blackburn Rovers, who dumped the kitchen sink
Ten men. Sky Blues as they desperately tried to score a goal and take all three points to avoid having their destiny decided on the final day of the season. Mark Robins was visibly annoyed by the defender’s indiscipline, which will keep him out of the last two games and the first of the 2024/25 season, and thinks he must learn from the setback, which would have been even more costly had City’s play-off aspirations remained alive.
Fadz, farewell
On a day when one of City’s most recent centre-backs had a forgettable game, fans bid farewell to great defender Kyle McFadzean. The 37-year-old didn’t get to say his goodbyes when he moved to Ewood Park in
January and appeared genuinely moved and emotional as he made his way to the 4,300-strong travelling Sky Blue Army after the final whistle. Fadz showed no signs of slowing down throughout the 90 minutes for Rovers, having his name sung aloud by City fans before kick-off, once during the game in the first half, and then on repeat for several minutes at the end amid heart-warming scenes that summed up their incredible connection with the players. But McFadzean is more than just another player; he’s a unique character who will be remembered for years to come for his role in the club’s ascension from League One.
Great scenes at the end of the game as the Sky Blue Army say a fond farewell to Fadz – proper fans paying tribute to a legend #pusb #skyblues pic.twitter.com/F0wJhVPIKX
— Andy Turner (@AndyTurnerccfc) April 27, 2024
Rare but welcome clean sheet
City had to summon up some of McFadzean’s body on the line approach to defending to keep the team’s first clean sheet in eight long league games – a feat that was all the more impressive considering that Rovers created a whopping 30 attempts on goal, eight of which were on target, with opposition coach Keith Downing backing up Coventry’s resolve by revealing a block count of ten.
The shut-out was one of the few positives Robins pointed to in his post-match assessment, coming as only the Sky Blues’ 12th of the season, which the manager clearly feels isn’t good enough and is a key area for improvement next year. Last season, of course, City boasted a club record 22 clean sheets with Ben Wilson in goal behind an impressive back three that included McFadzean at the heart. Of this season’s clean sheets, Wilson has kept four in the league (five in all comps) and Brad Collins eight. It’s an aspect of City’s game that has clearly gone backwards and, one assumes, Robins will be looking to address in the summer transfer window.
Writing on the wall?
Collins’ form has dipped in recent weeks, with him being blamed for Hull’s first goal in midweek and jointly culpable for their winner, having been chastised for Manchester United’s first goal at Wembley last weekend and possibly doing better at his near post to deny Birmingham’s third the week before. Since signing the former Chelsea prospect from Barnsley last summer, Robins has stated that he does not have a number one and an understudy, but two outstanding Goalkeepers compete for the shirt. With that in mind, many fans expected the manager to rest Collins at Ewood Park and give Wilson another chance. The fact that he did not suggests that the writing is on the wall for Wilson’s future at the club. And, at 31, and having played a whole season as first choice last year, it’s impossible to imagine him not wanting regular first-team football again next season and, as a result, maybe looking for a move in the summer.
New kid on the block.
Another bonus on the day was Aidan Dausch’s senior debut as a 17-year-old centre forward. The Under-18s striker has moved up to the 21st team this season and has certainly got the manager’s attention. Robins was impressed with the teenager’s effort rate and running over the final five minutes of normal time and five minutes of stoppage time. Although he is used to playing as a No.9, the forward had to dip slightly deeper than usual to help City finish the game without conceding.
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