Viktor Gyokeres penalty in added time earns Coventry a draw with Rotherham

Posted Wednesday, October 26, 2022 by PA

Viktor Gyokeres’ stoppage-time penalty earned in-form Coventry a 2-2 home draw against Rotherham in the Championship.

The Sky Blues had twice found themselves behind through Cohen Bramall’s first Millers goal and then Conor Washington.

Gustavo Hamer had briefly levelled things at 1-1 but it was Gyokeres’ spot-kick that earned the Sky Blues a point.

Callum Doyle and Ben Sheaf returned for the Sky Blues in place of Jonathan Panzo and Josh Eccles, while Martyn Waghorn was in for Kasey Palmer as the hosts searched for a fourth straight win in the second tier for the first time since December 2002.

Bramall was one of five Millers changes and he was lively from the start, fizzing a cross across goal after Fankaty Dabo’s missed interception let him in.

Coventry were dealt an early blow when Waghorn was forced off with injury after seeing a shot blocked inside the first two minutes.

Rotherham continued to press for an early lead when Dan Barlaser’s free-kick landed at the feet of Wes Harding, but the defender could not get a clean contact from close range before Georgie Kelly was also unable to poke home from the ensuing scramble.

The Sky Blues began to get a foothold in the game when Jamie Allen set the ball back for Hamer, but the Brazilian scuffed out for a throw-in.

The returning Doyle saw a powerful low drive saved by Viktor Johansson in the visitors’ goal, before a well-worked free-kick saw Michael Rose head back across goal for Kyle McFadzean, but the defender could not head in from close range.

Coventry had been the more free-flowing and threatening side until the 40th minute when the half started to unravel after Palmer’s misplaced pass in Rotherham’s final third.

Barlaser took control and drove forward, with his well-weighted pass finding Bramall who picked his moment to drill the ball past Ben Wilson in the Coventry goal.

Dabo sustained an injury attempting to chase the wing-back down and was forced off on a stretcher.

Rotherham came agonisingly close to doubling their lead after the break when Ben Wiles’ cross curled past the far post as Wilson stood unmoved, while the midfielder also saw a shot blocked in the box.

It was a triple change apiece with 15 minutes to go that brought the game to life as within a minute Coventry were level.

Palmer found himself on the edge of the box and his delicate pass fed Hamer and the midfielder found a gap at the near post to score for the second consecutive game.

But parity was to last all of four minutes as Barlaser was to create his and Rotherham’s second of the evening.

Washington broke the offside trap and was found by the former Newcastle midfielder. His first effort was well-saved by Wilson but he was alert and in the right place to gather the rebound and slot home his third goal of the season.

Yet Coventry, who scored numerous late goals at home throughout last season, were far from done as substitute Brooke Norton-Cuffy brought down Callum O’Hare in the box and Gyokeres stepped up to slot home his fifth goal of the campaign and earn Coventry a point.