Four things we learnt from Coventry's draw with Rotherham

Viktor Gyokeres stole a point with a late penalty at the CBS on Wednesday night. Here is what it taught us.

Four things we learnt from Coventry's draw with Rotherham
Photo courtesy of Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
liamm2002
By Liam Murphy

A late Viktor Gyokeres penalty nicked a point for Coventry against Rotherham on Wednesday night, after Conor Washington thought his goals 10 minutes from time had sealed all three.

Cohen Bramall fired Matt Taylor's Millers into the lead on the stroke of half-time, before Gustavo Hamer levelled with 15 minutes to go.

Washington equalised almost immediately but Callum O'Hare won a penalty with just stoppage time to spare, giving Gyokeres the chance to score his fifth of the season and steal a late point.

Amongst the action were injuries, stellar performances and movement in the notoriously tight Championship play-off battle.

So, here are four things we learned.

Sky Blues four unbeaten but at a cost

After the win at Stoke on Saturday, City manager Mark Robins confirmed that Matty Godden and Liam Kelly had both suffered fresh injury setbacks.

And the injury list was not helped in the draw on Tuesday night, after Martyn Waghorn and Fankaty Dabo were both forced off with first-half injuries.

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At right-back, City are suitably covered, with Todd Kane and Josh Eccles both ready to step in - as the latter did against Rotherham.

However, it is up front where the headaches come for Robins.

Godden and Waghorn both picking up injuries in a week, as well as Tyler Walker still recovering from a torn knee ligament leaves youngster Fabio Tavares as the only other fit strike partner for Gyokeres.

Having only given the Portuguese forward 77 league minutes this season, Robins will either have to bite the bullet and give him a full start or pack the midfield, like in the win at Stoke.

Millers miss chance to apply play-off pressure

The draw on Tuesday night moves Rotherham into the top half of the table.

Now sat in 11th, just four points off the play-offs, Taylor's men have put in an astounding effort so far, especially considering they were the bookies' favourite to make an immediate return to League One.

With the departure of long-serving manager Paul Warne to Derby County, many expected that the writing was on the wall for a return to the third tier.

However, it says a lot that the 1000 travelling fans could walk away from the CBS Arena on Tuesday night disappointed that their side had not managed to go within two points of the top six.

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Had former Coventry man Richard Wood held his nerve and not gave away a late penalty, Rotherham were looking very likely to take the victory.

Unfortunately for Wood and his side, they had to settle for a point but there can be no doubt that former Exeter boss Taylor is defying all expectations this season.

Hamer on top form again

Coventry's Brazilian midfielder Hamer has been a man on a mission since returning from his four-match ban.

On his first start since the suspension for violent conduct at Birmingham last month, Hamer ran the show at Stoke.

First setting up Jamie Allen's opener, before sealing the points himself with a superb solo run and finish.

And he was on a mission again on Tuesday.

Taking the captain's armband at 1-0 down, Hamer immediately scored, starting and finishing the move.

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He won the ball back on the edge of the area, allowed O'Hare and Kasey Palmer to play between themselves, before the latter threaded a pass for Hamer to slam in off the near post and level the scores.

The tenacity that Hamer has become so loved for amongst the Sky Blue Army was on full display as well, making six tackles in the 90 minutes and earning himself another 8.4 match rating on WhoScored.

Barlaser equally as influential

While Hamer impressed in Sky Blue, there can be no doubt that Daniel Barlaser was just as important in the red of Rotherham.

His side decided to sit in and soak up the Coventry pressure, waiting for their opportunity to break away on the counter-attack.

And moments before half-time, they got their chance and Barlaser was at the heart of it with a sublime assist.

Winning the ball back on the edge of his own box, he stormed over the halfway line and found the run of Bramall who beat Dabo for pace and fired in at the near post.

He would be at the heart of the Millers' second, too.

Picking up the ball on the edge of the centre circle, the former Newcastle man carved open the Sky Blues' defence with one perfect pass again, allowing Washington to flick over Ben Wilson and poke home.

Barlaser also managed to secure an 8.3 match rating on WhoScored for his efforts, demonstrating his influence on the result - one which the Millers are unlikely to have got without him.