Honours even as Swans draw with Coventry 

It is still no league win for Michael Duff’s side who lacked a cutting edge in their play to force a winner. 

Just like in the previous meetings last season, the scores ended level. Matty Godden’s close-range finish for the visitors giving the Sky-Blue’s a lead seven minutes before the break before Swans striker Jerry Yates’ well-placed header evened the scores immediately.

A concerning factor for the Swans though would be how they failed to get going in the opening period once more and found themselves conceding first for the third game in a row. 

Having left themselves with too much to do at the Hawthorns going three goals down in the first hour of the 3-2 defeat against West Bromwich Albion, Swans head-coach Michael Duff was keen that his side start games stronger with more attacking purpose, but more of the same would be seen in the first half, before much like in their previous outings the Swans would finish well. 

With thoughts of adding zip into the Swans play the Northern-Irishman chose to name a team with just one change. On-loan Arsenal playmaker Charlie Patino coming into a midfield led by captain Matt Grimes fresh from signing a new two-year contract extension at the club.

Opposition number Mark Robins’ losing play-off finalists Coventry, picked up their first victory of the season last weekend 3-0 at the Coventry Building Society Stadium against Middlesbrough and would come into the game full of confidence. 

The Swans in recent years have had the edge in the fixture against the East Midlands outfit, unbeaten in the eight meetings since 1981. However, nothing has been in the last two fixtures with an enthralling 3-3 draw in the Midlands last season followed up with a 0-0 stalemate in March, giving the game that little extra bite. 

The Sky-Blues boss chose to hand a start to American Haji Wright after a debutant goal against Boro whilst there was a first return to SA1 for former Swan Joel Latibeaudiere in the away sides defense having left the Swans in the summer.  

In a frantic opening played at a high pace, it would be the home side that started the brightest. The marauding Josh Key finding space on the left-hand side picking out Joel Piroe. The Dutchman’s hold-up play exemplary before playing a ball back to the edge of the penalty area, finding Jay Fulton joining the attack from midfield to smash a low effort narrowly wide of visiting goalkeeper Ben Wilson’s goal. 

Coventry looked full of purpose in their own attacking forays with Wright the clear focus of their pacey breakaway play with fellow forward Matty Godden full of running looking to close down the Swans defense from having time on the ball. The USA international picking the ball up on the edge of the penalty area but could only clip a guilt-edged half-chance wide of Carl Rushworth’s right-hand post. 

Wright would prove to be a constant and came close once more as the Sky Blue’s edged the first quarter, powerfully fizzing a rising effort narrowly over the Swans crossbar from 20-yards, before heading Josh Eccles corner inches wide. 

It would be a stark warning to Duff’s side that would also lack a cutting edge in their own play, often wasteful with the final ball into the box. Harry Darling a scorer at West Brom, coming close for the home side connecting with Matt Grimes’ corner but heading straight at Wilson. 

The visitors would not miss the next opportunity that came their way, Godden picking up the scraps reacting first to fire low past Rushworth to score his second in as many games from just outside the six-yard box after the Swans had failed to clear their lines from Wright’s pull back. 

The Swans, however, would hit back immediately minutes later to level the scores. Harrison Ashby finding room on the right-hand side before crossing to pick out Yates to guide a looping header past Wilson into the far corner. A clinical finish from the former Blackpool striker for his second of the campaign. 

In a cagey opening to the second period, it would be the Swans would see the first sight at goal. Piroe picking up the ball 25-yards out but dragging an effort wide as possession was exchanged between the two sides often with neither side gaining a foothold in the final third. 

The Swans would look the more likely as the half drew on to create an opening and came close to taking the lead for the first time. Fulton bursting from midfield onto Yates’ well-timed through ball, the Scotsman’s shot however, from a narrow-angle easily dealt with by Wilson. 

With the vocal home crowd coming into life sensing a victory, both sides pushed for the all-important second goal. Each knowing with such small margins the next strike would be pivotal in the game’s final outcome.  That did not come as The Swans backline would stand tall and defend solidly to earn a fair share of the spoils.

Swansea City X1 

Carl Rushworth, Josh Key, Harrison Ashby (Azeem Abdulai 81), Ben Cabango, Nathan Wood, Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (captain), Jay Fulton (Liam Cullen 81), Charlie Patino (Joe Allen 81), Jerry Yates (Josh Ginnelly 85), Joel Piroe.

Coventry City X1 

Ben Wilson, Bobby Thomas, Kyle McFadzean (captain), Joel Latibeudiere, Milan van Ewijk, Josh Eccles, Ben Sheaf (Liam Kelly 69), Jay Dasilva, Haji Wright (Ellis Simms 78), Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Matt Godden 

(Lead image: Swansea City FC)