Burton Albion 1-0 Coventry City
City: Lee Burge, Jack Grimmer, Jordan Willis, Michael Doyle (Abu Ogogo 72), Conor Chaplin (Jodi Jones 81), Jordy Hiwula, Junior Brown, Dominic Hyam, Jonson Clarke-Harris (Amadou Bakayoko 72), Tom Bayliss, Luke Thomas. SUBS: Corey Addai, Brandon Mason, Liam Kelly, Jordon Thompson
Burton: Collins, Akins, Brayford, McFadzean, McCrory, Quinn, Fraser, Allen, Hesketh (Harness 90), Cole (Buxton 87), Templeton (Miller 69) Subs: Bywater, Wallace, Hodge, Sbarra.
ATT 4,681
Goal; Jordan Willis own goal 61
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Coventry City suffered their third defeat in a week with a 1-0 loss at Burton Albion.
After a week of three cup exits, there was only league points left to play for and the Sky Blues travelled to the Pirelli Stadium, looking to win on a ground they had won last time out.
The City support were again out in numbers, having snapped up every available ticket for a ground which Burton moved into when they were in the Conference and one which has three sides of terrace.
That City support, who were noisy throughout with “Go For It” and “Twist N Shout” chants amongst the repertoire on a crisp but dry afternoon, saw the Sky Blues, playing in their white kit with Jack Grimmer back in the starting eleven.
Conor Chaplin and Luke Thomas showed glimpses of what they were capable of early in a half which saw Lee Burge, cheered by the City support every time he touched the ball, the far busier.
Michael Doyle, played some good balls whilst Tom Bayliss was involved in trying to get City attacking the far end for the first half and was not too far away with a 41st minute run and shot which was amongst the best of the few chances the Sky Blues created in a half in which Jordy Hiwula was pretty anonymous.
City may have had their share of the game in the first half but the second half belonged to Nigel Clough’s side who passed the ball on the deck around nicely.
The Brewers should have been ahead within a minute of the restart when Templeton curled just wide and then were denied by blocks from Jordan Willis and Dominic Hyam.
This was always going to be a one goal game and after Jonson Clarke-Harris had two chances to give City the lead, the goal came in the 61st minute when Jack Grimmer gave away a free kick in front of the Main Stand. Templeton sent it straight into the mixer and the ball came off the head of Jordan Willis and into the net.
Again, we stood and waited for City to get back into the game but it was not too be. So, Mark Robins made his changes, replacing Michael Doyle, who had laughingly been called a cheat by some of the home supporters, although not to his face, with Abu Ogogo and Jonson Clarke-Harris with Amadou Bakayoko.
That did nothing, so finally Jodi Jones came on for Chaplin, as Collins continued to look at the scoreboard above the City supporters to see how long of this fixture was left.
With City, who face Peterborough United at home on Friday night, lacking in front of goal, giving Collins an easy afternoon, five minutes were added on but that was not enough and there were boos as the final whistle went.