Coventry City 1-1 Swansea City: Ayew strike cancels out fine Shipley finish
- Published
Marc Guehi (left) and Matty Godden battle for possession
Jordan Shipley's classy finish was cancelled out by a sweet counter-attack goal from Andre Ayew as Coventry City and Swansea City shared the points at St Andrew's.
Shipley guided the ball into the net via the far post to put last season's League One champions on course for only a second victory since their return to the Championship.
But Swansea levelled when Ayew rounded off a fine move which was started by goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
Steve Cooper's team improved after the equaliser, but were grateful in the end for a draw which extends their unbeaten away run to nine regular-season games stretching back to February.
Sky Blues boss Mark Robins can be pleased with his team's response after successive league losses - but will feel they could have got more after a flurry of late opportunities went begging.
The point means they climb to 18th, while Swansea are fifth.
Coventry's high press caused problems in the first half, with Swansea caught in possession too often for Cooper's liking.
Jordan Shipley scored his first goal of the season
It was no surprise, therefore, that Coventry went in front after turning over possession.
Sam McCallum picked off Matt Grimes' pass and fed Matt Godden, who pulled the ball back for Shipley to sidefoot home his first of the season from the edge of the area.
Callum O'Hare might have doubled the lead but headed over, while Godden shot straight at Woodman after finding space in the box.
Swansea were toiling a little, with Viktor Gyokeres heading straight at Marko Marosi before Jamal Lowe sent an awkward half-volley into the stands.
Yet last season's play-off semi-finalists went in level after conjuring a moment of quality to match the Coventry goal.
Woodman threw the ball to Grimes, who measured a pass down the left flank towards Ayew.
Swansea's top scorer let the ball run for Jake Bidwell to chase before bursting onto the wing-back's sliding pull-back and rifling a shot low into the far corner of Marosi's net.
Swansea then took control for a while without creating many clear-cut chances, Korey Smith dragging a shot wide and Marc Guehi curling beyond the far post.
Andre Ayew (left) has scored in successive matches for Swansea City
But Coventry ought to have won it late on, with Jamie Allen seeing his 79th-minute drive ruled out for offside before Ryan Giles and Ben Sheaf had goalbound efforts blocked by Connor Roberts.
O'Hare then missed perhaps the best chance of the night as he rose unmarked in the six-yard box but headed against the post.
Coventry manager Mark Robins:
"I thought we were good start to finish really. There was a spell in the second half where it became a little bit scrappy for both teams but essentially I thought we controlled the majority of it.
"We have just played two top, top teams in Bournemouth and Brentford and another one tonight in Swansea. Up until Saturday they were unbeaten, not really conceding goals.
"The reaction from us was just what we were looking for.
"We had some good chances, a great finish from Jordan Shipley and other chances in the second half where really we should have wrapped the game up. We take the point and move on."
Swansea head coach Steve Cooper:
"I didn't like our performance in the first half. Coventry started with more intensity and more endeavour and it took us a while to settle.
"I don't like it when we do that because for all of the good things we try to do, I want us to be tough and hard-working and I want us to play with humility, so I was quite happy truth be told to come in not losing at half-time.
"We had to change things round tactically and then for 25 minutes we were good. We didn't have too many chances but I thought it was coming, then for some reason we gave up the momentum and ended up too deep again.
"I didn't like large parts of our performance and because of that I don't think we should be too disappointed with a point. We'll put it in the bag and move on to Saturday."