Bobby Thomas scored a dramatic last-gasp winner to give Coventry a thrilling 3-2 victory against Stoke at the CBS Arena. Victor Torp had netted twice in the first half to put the Sky Blues ahead before substitute Sam Gallagher struck twice to bring Stoke level. However, Thomas sealed the win in the seventh minute of added time, thumping the ball home to secure Coventry’s ninth win in ten league outings.
The match also marked the return of Stoke’s manager, Mark Robins, who had been dismissed by Coventry in November. Robins had led the club for seven years, guiding them to two promotions, a Championship playoff final loss to Luton on penalties, and an FA Cup semi-final appearance against Manchester United last season.
Coventry took the lead after 22 minutes when Milan van Ewijk’s long throw was met by Torp, who powered a header into the net. Nine minutes later, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto set up Torp for his second, nutmegging Enda Stevens before delivering a precise pass. The Danish midfielder controlled the ball before calmly slotting past Viktor Johansson.
Just before halftime, Josh Eccles nearly extended Coventry’s advantage, but his curling effort struck the post. Controversy followed when Sakamoto’s delicate lob found Ephron Mason-Clark, who was brought down by Johansson after poking the ball past him. Despite Coventry’s appeals, the referee awarded a goal-kick as the ball rolled narrowly wide.
Robins made two halftime substitutions, bringing on Gallagher and Million Manhoef. The changes paid off as Wouter Burger broke into the box, bypassed Liam Kitching’s challenge, and squared for Gallagher to tap into an empty net. It was Gallagher’s first goal since October.
Stoke equalized when Manhoef’s curling free-kick found Gallagher, who headed home to silence the 30,011-strong crowd. Burger nearly won it for the visitors with a clever backheel that skimmed the crossbar.
However, Coventry had the final word. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Thomas pounced on a loose clearance from Stevens, composed himself, and drove a left-footed shot into the bottom corner to secure a crucial victory.
In another match, Josh Coburn completed Millwall’s comeback as they overturned a halftime deficit to defeat Watford 2-1 at Vicarage Road.
Watford took the lead after 30 minutes through Mattie Pollock, who netted his first league goal of the season. Millwall, already dealing with the news that goalkeeper Liam Roberts would serve an extended six-game ban for his challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta, responded strongly in the second half.
Casper de Norre equalized in the 59th minute before Coburn secured the victory with a well-taken header in the 81st minute. The win moved Millwall to within a point of Watford, who had hoped to close the gap to the playoff positions.
