Ball goal condemns Sky Blues to ninth defeat of the season...
Coventry City lost out to Fleetwood Town in a 2-1 defeat at the Ricoh thanks to goals from Wes Burns and David Ball.
Wes Burns opened the scoring, heading in an Antoni Sarcevic cross before Marcus Tudgay equalised for City, placing well to beat Chris Maxwell. However, David Ball got the decisive goal firing into the top left corner from 20 yards out.
Tony Mowbray named an unchanged side from the Bury game, which meant John Fleck and Romain Vincelot anchored the midfield again. Joe Cole also maintained his starting berth after getting three assists against the Shakers, while Sam Ricketts played right-back as Baily Cargil and Jack Stephens continued heir partnership at centre –half.
City controlled much of the first segment of the game with Jacob Murphy coming the closest to opening the scoring in the 25th minute. Chris Stokes had won the ball on the edge of the City area before playing it to Cole in the middle of the park. Cole passed it onto James Maddisson who played it to Jacob Murphy on the right-flank. The skilful attacker cut in before steadying himself to take a shot, which rolled wide of the bottom left.
Tony Mowbray’s men almost took the lead again nine minutes later. Maddison whipped in a corner from the right which was met by Romain Vincelot , who flicked it towards the top right, but Chris Maxwell saved well getting a right palm to the ball.
The remainder of the half was a quiet affair. Whilst both sides showed signs of attacking intent neither could break through the defending of their opposite numbers , thus the teams went in level at the whistle.
Four minutes into the restart and the Sky Blues were at it again, pressing for that opening goal. This time it was Maddison who received the ball on the left of the area, before turning into space and curling a delightful effort just wide of the bottom right.
However, against the run of play the Cod Army took the lead in the 55th minute. Antoni Sarcevic sped down the right flank before floating in a ball towards Wes Burns at the left post, who headed past Reice Charles-Cook to give the visitors the lead.
Fleetwood at this point were having their best spell in the game thus far, almost doubling their lead four minutes later. Ashley Hunter broke down the right before turning his defender to get into the box. But his left-footed shot was saved well by Charles-Cook.
It wasn’t too long though before the Sky Blue song was echoing around the stadium as Marcus Tudgay levelled the game for the Sky Blues. Ruben Lamerias got the ball in midfield and drove towards the Cod goal. He then threaded the ball into Armstrong who pulled back superbly for Tudgay, whose placed shot deflected off the keeper into the net.
But Fleetwood regained the lead in he 82nd minute through David Ball. The midfielder received the ball in space, 20 yards from goal, and fired into the top left. In the remaining of normal time, and the five minutes of added time, City pressed for their second equaliser of the game but it didn't come as the Sky Blues lost out on the chance to go fifth.
Attendance: 11,169 (111 Away)
Teams
Coventry City: Charles-Cook (GK), Ricketts (C), Stephens, Cargill, Stokes, Vincelot, Fleck, Murphy (Tudgay 64), Cole (Antoine-Fortune 64), Maddison (Lamerias 64), Armstrong.
Subs: Addai (GK), Ramage, Rose, Lorentzson.
Fleetwood Town: Maxwell (GK), Jonsson, Bell, Ryan (C), Burns (Ameobi 81), Nirennold, Sarcevic (Sowerby 78), Hunter (Cole 68), Ball, Nilsson, Davis.
Subs: Gogic (GK),Grant, Haughton,Harris.
YC: Vincelot, Fleck