WRIGHT STUFF
Sky Blues delight at Haji goal but strike sparks protests
HAJI WRIGHT’S simple side-footed goal sparked a rumpus as Plymouth Argyle’s away-day woes rolled on.
The Coventry striker slotted home a 75th-minute strike that made it back-to-back victories for the Sky Blues, as their season spluttered back into life.
But the controversial finish kicked off an angry reaction from the visiting players, who rounded on assistant referee Graham Kane.
They were furious that the ball was not called out of play by the official after defender Milan van Ewijk worked his way down the wing. Led by goalkeeper Michael Cooper, they raced to the touchline – with referee Andy Davies in hot pursuit.
Their remonstrations failed to have the required impact, apart from the man in the middle handing out a string of bookings for dissent.
Wright could not have hoped for a better chance than the one that fell his way – and he had the easiest of jobs to poke home.
This game needed something to bring it to life as these two cancelled each other out for long periods. The Pilgrims have not won away so far in their first season back in the second tier – and Coventry’s supporters have only seen two victories on their own turf all season.
The first 30 minutes was a non-event. A poor final pass, or a timely foot from defenders on both sides, stopped any attempt to break the stalemate.
But the game finally livened up. Home keeper Brad Collins did well to keep out a deflected effort from Kaine Kesler-Hayden, and then punched clear after Morgan Whittaker tried his luck with a free-kick from out wide.
At the other end, Sky Blues midfielder Ben Sheaf had two chances inside a matter of a couple of minutes.
First, his attempt to curl home a shot finished just the wrong side of the upright. Then a deep free-kick found him all alone at the far post four yards out – the Argyle keeper Michael Cooper did well to block.
After the interval, Plymouth’s Luke Cundle fired a cross-shot inches wide, then Lewis Gibson blasted over a close-range volley after the Sky Blues had failed to clear a corner.
But Van Ewijk managed to create that one unmissable opportunity – and Wright gobbled it up, to register his fifth goal of the campaign.
CARDIFF: Collins 6, Van Ewijk 7, (Latibeaudiere 78) Kitching 7, Thomas 6, Bidwell 6, Sheaf 6, Allen 8, (Ayari 78) Eccles 5; Sakamoto 6, (O’Hare 64, 6) Wright 6, Godden 5. (Simms 78) PLYMOUTH: Cooper 6, Kesler-Hayden 6, Pleguezuelo 6, Gibson 7, Edwards 6, (Galloway 86) Mumba 5, (Wright T 55, 5) Houghton 6, Azaz 5, (Wright C 69, 5) Whittaker 6, Waine 5, (Bundu 69, 5) Cundle 5 (Randell 69, 5)