Coventry City vs Reading. Sky Bet Championship.
The Coventry Building Society ArenaAttendance16,464.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Coventry and Reading at the Coventry Building Society Arena as Matty Godden's last-ditch winner earned victory for the Sky Blues on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday 21 August 2021 18:58, UK
Matt Godden's strike in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage-time sent the Coventry Building Society Arena into raptures as Coventry earned a last-gasp 2-1 Championship comeback victory over Reading.
Jamie Allen had levelled things seconds after coming on to cancel out John Swift's 40th-minute penalty after he himself had been fouled by Fankaty Dabo.
It was fellow substitute Godden who wrapped up the three points for the home side deep into stoppage time, breaking Reading's resistance to earn a second home win of the season.
The two sides endured contrasting fortunes in midweek and it was the home side who used their win against Blackpool to make the better start, Viktor Gyokeres heading into the arms of Reading stopper Rafael from Ian Maatsen's cross inside five minutes.
Sweden international Gyokeres almost put the Sky Blues a goal ahead once again after 16 minutes.
The former Brighton man wriggled past a swarm of Reading defenders and saw his first effort blocked, but his looping second effort evaded Rafael and rebounded off the upright.
Callum O'Hare was next to try his luck, stinging the palms of the Brazil goalkeeper before forcing the 31-year-old to complete a smart double save on the follow-up.
Mark Robins' side had done all but score in the first half and their hard work was to be undone when Dabo clumsily bundled Swift over in the penalty area as he tried to latch onto George Pușcaș' through ball.
The former Chelsea man dusted himself down to give the Royals the lead against the run of play and send the visitors in happier at the break.
The hosts piled the pressure on once again after half-time as Gustavo Hamer fired an early warning shot to the left of Rafael's goal before Maatsen sent his shot high into the stand.
O'Hare also saw his shot deflected narrowly over for a corner before midfielder Allen was introduced in the 61st minute.
Allen, who was dropped from Tuesday's starting XI, made Coventry's pressure pay instantly when his rasping left-footed drive from the edge of the box gave the hosts their deserved equaliser.
With the home supporters in full voice, Coventry went in search of what would have been a winner.
Gyokeres' ongoing battle with Rafael continued well into the second half with the stopper acrobatically turning the striker's header over the crossbar.
While Maatsen remained a threat down the left-hand side and substitute Godden forced a good block from the Reading defence.
But it was the latter who had the final say in the contest, finding himself on the left-hand side of the box and calmly sliding the ball home to give the hosts a dramatic last-gasp victory.
Coventry's Mark Robins: "Matty Godden has been working so hard over the last few months, he's been really frustrated that he's been out for the length of time he has been, but you can sort of sense that he's ready. We know exactly how he moves and we've just tweaked that a little bit this week.
"He's worked really hard on that and his movement opened it up to get the next chance to be a left-footed shot that ended up in the back of the net for the winner."
Reading's Veljko Paunovic: "This is football, today we were on the other end of the glory. Instead of the previous action on the corner kick where we had an opportunity to score in the very last second, we unfortunately crumbled and conceded a goal that wiped our opportunity to earn a well and solid one point.
"There is definitely disappointment the way we conceded, I believe that it's on us. I think we lacked experience - a little bit of everything in those moments."
