Coventry City supporters blow whistle on their own whistling protest

Max Clayton's 91st-minute equaliser was caused by players being distracted by a whistle in the crowd

Coventry City fans have been asked to stop whistling protests at games in the wake of claims that a crowd whistle triggered Bolton's late equaliser in Monday's 2-2 draw at the Ricoh Arena.

City fans have been involved in regular protests against club owners Sisu.

They reached a big live TV audience with mass whistling in the home defeat by Sheffield United in December.

But supporters spokesman Jan Mokrzycki has warned that the whistling may be doing "more harm than good".

Mokrzycki, from the Sky Blue Trust, added: "Whilst to most fair-minded observers the cause of the Bolton equalising goal was simple defender error, some elements are blaming a whistle for causing momentary confusion in City's ranks.

"This form of protest is now doing more harm than good to the protest movement which we are fully behind and the Trust is calling on all supporters to cease the use of whistles at games.

"The Trust continues to fully support the efforts of The Jimmy Hill Way Alliance to rid our club of owners Sisu, fully backs manager Russell Slade and the team and calls for all supporters to unite together behind both the protests and the team - but without the whistles."

Sky Blues fans want their City back

Coventry City fans' frustration with their owners has steadily increased since the London-based hedge fund managers first took over the club in 2007.

But protests have become more frequent and varied this season, all to the loud backdrop chants of "We Want Sisu Out" at every game.

• 15 October: Co-staged a plastic 'pigs might fly' protest with equally disaffected Charlton fans in the away match at The Valley.

• 22 October: Thousands of City fans took to the streets in a protest march before the home match with Rochdale.

• 26 November: A mock funeral procession at their home game against MK Dons "in affectionate remembrance of Coventry City Football Club which is dying due to neglect and abuse at the hands of Sisu from 2007 to 2016".

• 15 December: A peaceful anti-Sisu carol singing protest outside the stadium before the visit of Sheffield United, followed by constant loud whistling from the first minute and two pitch invasions.