Coventry City 1-1 Blackpool: Sky Blues and Seasiders share points

Viktor Gyokeres equalisesImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

Viktor Gyokeres scored for the third time in his last four appearances for Coventry City

Championship play-off hopefuls Coventry City and Blackpool had to settle for a draw at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Blackpool's Gary Madine got his second goal in as many games as he fired his side ahead at the far post after good work down the left from Owen Dale.

Viktor Gyokeres coolly levelled after getting on the end of keeper Simon Moore's long ball shortly before the break.

Madine and Jordan Thorniley had efforts in quick succession for Blackpool after the break while Gyokeres, Martyn Waghorn and Gustavo Hamer missed chances for the Sky Blues.

Both sides are four points outside the top six in a tight table, with Coventry remaining in 12th after Stoke's win over Swansea while Blackpool drop one spot to 14th.

An action-packed opening 15 minutes saw both sides create great chances to take the lead - Gyokeres narrowly missed the target for the Sky Blues in the first two minutes and Ian Maatsen also flashed an effort wide, while at the other end Dale and Josh Bowler both went close.

Coventry had the better of the play as the half went on and had two goals ruled out for offside - Callum O'Hare before Blackpool's opener and Gyokeres shortly after.

But the Swedish forward did find the net when he got around Dujon Sterling and finished with his right foot after Moore's long ball.

Chances were at a premium after the break as Moore kept out Madine and Thorniley after 70 minutes while Coventry failed to find a breakthrough as Hamer saw a 90th-minute effort deflected wide after good work by Gyokeres.

Coventry City manager Mark Robins told BBC CWR:

"We have to do better and keep the ball out of the net, it's as simple as that when we're not as clinical as we need to be at the other end.

"We are a really good team, they are playing out of their skins, they're moving the ball really well, we're so close to being a top, top team and that's the frustration that everybody will feel.

"But I've got to remind everybody that that is us at the moment, that's what we are, the players have done absolutely phenomenal things, it's brilliant to watch, they're moving the ball really well, the opposition don't know what to do."

Blackpool head coach Neil Critchley told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"I thought Coventry were excellent, first half especially, I think they're the best team we've played this season - the system gives you a problem, but the way they play in the system, and the players they've got give you a real problem.

"But we always carried a threat as well and after we scored our first goal I actually felt for the next 10 minutes we settled down and even though they had more of the ball we were looking quite comfortable.

"Second half I thought we played very well, I thought we played some really good football, it was an even game and if anything we probably looked the most likely to score, but you always know with the quality they've got as well, and they score a lot of goals late, that they're likely to create a chance and win the game."

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