This game won’t live long in the memory, but we got a valuable point so who cares .
Despite their off the field problems Coventry City are only just outside the play-offs so it was a tough place to come and it was never going to be easy.
But for long periods we defended deeply and resolutely with Jack Bonham pulling off several fines saves to keep us in the game while the Sky Blues finishing was woeful. Their fans must have been wishing Jonson Clarke-Harris was still playing for them .
Tom Lockyer was once again superb at the back and suffered one terrible tackle that earned the home forward a booking. Later the Welsh international pulled off one superbly timed tackle near the end which had to be perfect or their man would have been in on goal.
Lockyer was well supported by Tony Craig and James Clarke while Michael Kelly was having a tough time but could count on the help of the hard-working Stuart Sinclair who was frequently on hand to help out.
At times, particularly in the first-half, we were struggling to keep hold of the ball when we did get it with Abu Ogogo and Liam Sercombe the main offenders. It meant Clarke-Harris and Gavin Reilly had little to feed on before the break.
'It was Wembley compared to Eastville'
It was not pretty stuff with passes going astray but the pitch could not be blamed. There had been fears that it was not going to be good after rugby was played on it only 24 hours earlier but it was Wembley compared to Eastville on a wet day.
The introduction of Alex Jakubiak and Tom Nichols did bring an injection of pace as Rovers began to look promising on the break. In fact I thought it was going to be the big day when Nichols would score as he had one fine volley well turned around for a corner by the Sky Blues ‘keeper.
The hard-working Reilly had been getting the same treatment that is usually reserved for Nichols in that he was often pushed off the ball. It seems to me the defenders are bigger and stronger in this division this season so the smaller forwards are suffering.
Clarke-Harris was well marked with two defenders on him for most of the game. One good move near the end finished with Sercombe firing low through a crowded goalmouth but it was straight at the ‘keeper.
So once again we ended with another very good away point. I think we will be safe if we draw every game but it would be nice to pick up three on Saturday.
