Viktor Gyokeres' penalty saved a point for Coventry after Conor Washington looked as though he had won all three for Rotherham at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

The Sky Blues had to fight back from behind twice, after Cohen Bramall opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time to give the Millers the lead, before Gustavo Hamer equalised to make it 1-1.

Washington scored moments later to fire Matt Taylor's side ahead again but Callum O'Hare won a late spot-kick for Gyokeres to convert and steal a point for Coventry.

It still leaves Coventry in the relegation zone on goal difference but Mark Robins' side are now unbeaten in four matches.

As for Matt Taylor's men, the draw moved them up one place to 11th and only four points off the play-offs.

Story of the Match

The Millers had the better of the opening exchanges and were unlucky not to open the scoring on 12 minutes.

Daniel Barlaser's corner caused issues in the Sky Blues penalty area, with Wes Harding and Georgie Kelly both seeing efforts blocked at close-range, before Fankaty Dabo cleared his lines.

However, City livened up after their early scare and applied the pressure.

Hamer chipped a well-weighted pass behind the defence for the on-running Gyokeres.

The Sweden international beat his compatriot Viktor Johansson to the ball but went down, triggering furious appeals for a penalty from the home crowd but referee Andy Davies remained unmoved.

Embed from Getty Images

City kept pushing, though.

Hamer's deep free-kick on the left-side found Michael Rose at the back post.

The Scot headed back across goal for Kyle McFadzean but, surrounded by red Rotherham shirts, the Sky Blues defender headed just over the bar.

Despite Coventry's chances, it was the Millers who broke the deadlock just before half-time.

Barlaser intercepted the ball on the edge of his own box and drove into the Sky Blues'.

He slid a pass down the left-hand side for Bramall, who broke past Dabo and fired past Ben Wilson at his near post to see Rotherham take a 1-0 lead into the break.

Embed from Getty Images

Rotherham almost doubled their lead straight after the restart when Ben Wiles worked space on the left-hand side for a right-footed cross.

It was whipped towards the back post but unfortunately for the Millers, it was just past the post and just too far beyond the incoming Kelly again.

20 minutes from time Coventry really should have brought themselves level.

Johansson failed to collect a high ball under challenge from Gyokeres and Allen had the goal at his mercy but the Swedish 'keeper recovered to hold his shot.

They would eventually break level moments later and make their pressure count.

Callum O'Hare and Palmer combined well on the edge of the area to find Hamer who replicated Bramall's first-half finish and score his second in as many games.

However, their pressure was in vain again as Washington restored Rotherham's lead.

Barlaser with the assist again, splitting the home side's defence and finding Washington, who flicked over the on-rushing Wilson and poked home.

Embed from Getty Images

The drama was not done there, though.

Palmer found O'Hare in the penalty area and he went down under the challenge of former Coventry man Richard Wood and referee Davies pointed to the spot.

Gyokeres stepped up and calmly stroked the ball down the middle to steal a point for his side with just added time left to play.

Player of the Match

Daniel Barlaser

Embed from Getty Images

The Rotherham midfielder was superb under the lights at the CBS.

His slide-rule passes for both goals split open the Sky Blues defence with ease and this is a defence which had concede just once in the seven games previous to this one.

His exploits here earned him a match rating of 8.3 on WhoScored and it would not be out-of-turn to say that Rotherham could have easily come away with nothing here had it not been for Barlaser's performance.

Coventry starting XI: Wilson (GK), Dabo (Eccles 45'), Doyle, McFadzean (Panzo 75'), Rose, Bidwell (Kane 75'), Hamer, Sheaf (O'Hare 75'), Allen, Waghorn (Palmer 7'), Gyokeres

Coventry unused substitutes: Moore (GK), Tavares

Rotherham starting XI: Johansson, Hall (Wood 74'), Peltier (McCart 74'), Humphreys, Harding, Barlaser, Odoffin (Lindsay 52'), Wiles, Bramall (Norton-Cuffy 62'), Washington, Kelly (Eaves 75')

Rotherham unused substitutes: Vickers (GK), High

VAVEL Logo
About the author