Match ends, Coventry City 0, Leyton Orient 1.
CoventryCoventry City0Leyton OrientLeyton Orient1
Leyton Orient gave their hopes of escaping League One relegation a boost with a late winner at fellow strugglers Coventry City.
Josh Wright powered home an angled right-foot shot to win the game with his first goal for the club.
City were left to bemoan their bad luck after on-loan Tottenham midfielder Grant Ward was denied by both the post and visiting keeper Alex Cisak.
Defeat leaves new boss Tony Mowbray without a home win in four attempts.
Orient's victory lifts them out of the bottom four for the first time in over two months, but their goal led a charmed life during Coventry's purple patch at the start of the second half.
| Sky Blues still struggling at the Ricoh |
|---|
| Coventry's 2-1 home win over MK Dons on 28 February, immediately following the sacking of Steven Pressley, remains their only league victory at the Ricoh Arena in the past five months. |
After a dreary first half, Ward's stunning dribble followed by curled right-foot effort straight after the break looked likely to spark the game into life.
But it hit the post to trigger a catalogue of Coventry near misses.
George Thomas had a shot cleared off the line by O's defender Mathieu Baudry after an error by keeper Cisak, who then made amends by tipping Ward's curling shot over before City centre-half Aaron Martin then headed just wide.
Ward's inswinging corner was then kept out from under the bar by Cisak, before another cross with the outside of his right foot somehow passed across the face of goal.
But, with 12 minutes left, Orient broke away and Wright kept his cool to fire past on-rushing home keeper Lee Burge.
Coventry, who had won their previous three away matches, are now just three points clear of trouble, with six games left.
Sky Blues manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire:
"We'd have been disappointed with 0-0 because of the opportunities we created, but to lose it is even worse.
"It's about putting the ball in the net and keeping it out at the other end and the basics have to be done. One madness moment and the ball is in our net.
"I couldn't knock their determination, desire and effort to win, but we have to win another few games to secure our place in the division.
"We're all fully aware of the last four games at home, one point from a possible 12. We have to go to Notts County, try to be positive again and try to keep our points tally ticking along."
Leyton Orient manager Fabio Liverani told BBC London 94.9:
"It was a very important game and a six-pointer. They are three important points for us.
"The spirit of the players has never lacked since I arrived and is why I was always happy to stay, even in moments we were losing games and struggling.
"With seven games to go, we have to aim for maximum points game by game to make sure we get out of this situation."
Line-ups
Coventry
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Burge
- 2Willis
- 22Pennington
- 21Martin
- 30Stokes
- 8Ward
- 7Fleck
- 17OdelusiSubstituted forTurgottat 82'minutes
- 11O'BrienSubstituted forHaynesat 81'minutes
- 19NoubleBooked at 34mins
- 14SamuelSubstituted forThomasat 11'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Thomas
- 16Barton
- 18Phillips
- 25Turgott
- 26Haynes
- 33Charles-Cook
- 37Thomas
Leyton Orient
Formation 4-4-2
- 40Cisak
- 5Cuthbert
- 6Baudry
- 15Clarke
- 12Lowry
- 35TaylorSubstituted forHedgesat 59'minutes
- 17Wright
- 20Bartley
- 11McAnuffSubstituted forJamesat 68'minutes
- 23DagnallSubstituted forOmozusiat 85'minutes
- 24Henderson
Substitutes
- 2Omozusi
- 8James
- 27Simpson
- 30Plasmati
- 33Woods
- 34Hedges
- Referee:
- Darren Bond
- Attendance:
- 8,010
Match Stats
Home TeamCoventryAway TeamLeyton Orient
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home5
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Coventry City 0, Leyton Orient 1.
Substitution
Substitution, Leyton Orient. Elliot Omozusi replaces Chris Dagnall.
Post update
Foul by Matthew Pennington (Coventry City).
Post update
Chris Dagnall (Leyton Orient) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Coventry City. Blair Turgott replaces Sanmi Odelusi.
Substitution
Substitution, Coventry City. Ryan Haynes replaces Jim O'Brien.
Post update
Aaron Martin (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Chris Dagnall (Leyton Orient).
Goal!
Goal! Coventry City 0, Leyton Orient 1. Josh Wright (Leyton Orient) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Chris Dagnall.
Post update
Corner, Leyton Orient. Conceded by Aaron Martin.
Post update
Frank Nouble (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Mathieu Baudry (Leyton Orient).
Substitution
Substitution, Leyton Orient. Lloyd James replaces Jobi McAnuff.
Post update
Grant Ward (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Darius Henderson (Leyton Orient).
Post update
Attempt saved. Sanmi Odelusi (Coventry City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Mathieu Baudry.
Substitution
Substitution, Leyton Orient. Ryan Hedges replaces Jake Taylor.
Post update
Sanmi Odelusi (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
